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AUTHOR: 


O  i  v^lNltZ  ,    /\  .    r   . 


TITLE: 


HISTORY  OF  ENGLAND 


PLACE: 


BOSTON 


DATE: 


1883 


COLUMBIA  UNIVERSITY  LIBRARIES 
PRESERVATION  DEPARTMENT 


Master  Negative  # 


BIBLIOGRAPHIC  MICROFORM  TARCFT 


Restrictions  on  Use: 


Original  Material  as  Filmed  -  Existing  Bibliographic  Record 


St7 


Stone,  Admiral  Paschal 

A  history  of  Eii<vland.     By  A.  P.  Stone 
lli()rni)son,  Jhown  and  company,  1883. 

viii,  232  [k    illns.,  maps.     19^". 

llasol  on  J.  E.  Worcester's  Elements  of  history. 


1.  C.t.  lirit.— riist.--Compcnd^. 


Library  of  Congress 


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HISTORY  OF  ENGLAND. 


BY 


A.    P.    STONE,    LL.D., 


SUPERINTENDENT   OF   SCHOOLS,   SPRINGFIELD,   MASS. 


r 


BOSTON: 
THOMPSON,   BROWN,  AND   COMPANY. 

B.C.  1 883. 


PREFACE. 


50901 

Copyright,  1879,  i88a. 
By  THOMPSON.  BROWN,  &  CO. 

'  1 / ..     \ '  'i 

w'  * - V 


Frmnklim  Prtu: 

Electroiy^d  and  Primied  h 

Ramd,  Avery ^  *•  C#., 

Affflmt. 


This  work  is  designed  as  a  text-book  in  English  history  for 
those  who  desire  a  course  of  moderate  extent.    Though  com- 
paratively brief,  it  omits  no  essential  facts   in   the   historical 
narrative,  and  it  gives  sufficient  prominence  to  those  features 
whose  importance  entitles  them  to  such  a  consideration.    The 
b^is  of  the  work  is  the  chapter  on  England  in  the  weU-known 
Elemenu  of  History  "  by  Dr.  Joseph  E.  Worcester,  for  many 
years  a  very  popular  text-book  in  extensive  use  in  American 
schools     It  has  been  thoroughly  revised  and  rewritten,  and 
enlarged  by  important  additions  and  by  a  fuller  treatment  of 
such  portions  as  seemed  to  demand  it.    Such  corrections  and 
modificafons  have  also  been  made  as  had  becpme  hecessary 
in  view  of  the  light  of  historical  research  and  criticism  since 
the  original  work  was  written. 

manua   that  shall  serve  as  a  guide  to  both  teacher  and  pupil  in 
an  intelligent  study  of  English  history,  and  to  present  the  sub- 

TJ,Tf  "  T  ^  *°  "^"""^^  '■"'"'  '^^  P"P"  ^'l'  inducements 
to  make  the  study  one  of  memorizing  and  routine,  to  assist  the 

!nH  .      '\f"^°"'-«P"g  independent  study  and  investigation. 

Such  suggestions  and  helps  only  have  been  furnished  as  will 
mdicate  the  proper  object  and  method  of  historical  study,  and 
make  its  pursuit  one  of  pleasure  and  profit,  and  at  the  ;ame 

m 


IV 


PREFACE. 


time  will  leave  the  teacher  at  liberty  to  follow  whatever  special 
plan  may  be  suggested  by  his  own  individual  preferences  or 

habits  of  work. 

Some  features  of  the  book  will,  it  is  believed,  be  of  important 
assistance  in  its  use.     Instead  of  printed  questions,  agamst  the 
use  of  which  there  are  very  grave  objections,  side-notes  have 
been  added,  which  give  a  key  to  the  contents  of  the  paragraph 
in   which  they  are   set,   but  which,  nevertheless,  require   the 
learner  to  read  carefully  the  whole  text.     Several  new  maps 
have  been  prepared  to  indicate  important  localities  and  events, 
and  these  maps  are  rendered  specially  clear  and  attractive  by 
the  absence  of  all  unnecessary  detail.    A  chronological  table 
of  sovereigns,  convenient  for  reference,  precedes  the  text ;  and 
at  the  close  of  the  work  will  be  found  tables  of  leading  histor- 
ical events  and  of  distinguished  persons,  a  list  of  the  British 
Possessions,  the  genealogy  of  English  sovereigns,  a  list  of  the 
members  of  the  royal  family,  and  a  brief  account  of  the  English 
Government.     Outline  synopses  for  review,  with  tables  of  con- 
temporaneous history,  have  been  inserted  at  convenient  inter- 
vals both  for  practical  use  and  as  suggestive  models  for  teacher 
anipupil.    An  Index  is  added,  which  will  be  found  a  ready 
ke#o  the  names  of  all  persons,  places,  and  topics  treated  m 

%hTpresent  revised  edition  of  the  work  contains  additu^ns 
giving  to  portions  of  the  narrative  fuller  treatment,  and  adding 
fmpc^tant  matter  and  detail  concerning  the  -f/J^  J^  ^ 
social  customs  of  the  English  people.  It  is  believed  that  this 
feature  will  be  regarded  a  valuable  one  by  those  who  make 
history  a  study  of  the  progress  of  a  people. 
Springfield,  Aug.  25,  1882. 


SUGGESTIONS  TO  TEACHERS. 


1.  Encourage  the  pupil  to  read  through  carefully  the  entire  les- 
son for  the  day,  in  connection  with  what  immediately  precedes,  so 
as  to  obtain  a  general  and  a  connected  idea  of  the  subject,  which 
will  enable  the  mind  to  grasp  and  retain  the  main  facts  of  the 
lesson,  without  memorizing  the  words  of  the  text. 

2.  Taking  the  side-notes  as  guides,  use  such  questions  of  your 
own  as  will  compel  the  learner  to  give  the  connected  story  of  the 
lesson.     Questions  that  will  admit  of  very  brief  answers  should  be 

avoided. 

3.  Require  the  recitation  to  be  given  in  the  pupil's  own  language 
as  far  as  possible,  making  allowance  for  age  and  other  circum- 
stances. 

4.  Make  frequent  use  of  the  maps,  and  require  sketch-maps  |feid 
plans  to  be  drawn  upon  the  blackboard.  A  very  few  important 
dates  only  should  be  committed  and  often  reviewed. 

5.  Show  pupils  how  to  extend  their  reading  and  researches  into 
other  books  than  their  text-books,  and  to  obtain  information  of 
the  same  events  as  told  in  the  larger  works  of  Macaulay,  Hume, 
Lingard,  Knight,  Green's  English  People,  &c.;  and  occasionally 
assign  different  topics  to  different  pupils  for  fuller  investigation. 

6.  Have  frequent  reviews  and  re-reviews,  varj'ing  them  so  as  to 
make  them  topical,  chronological,  and  geographical. 

7.  Lessons  should  not  be  too  lengthy.  Their  extent  should  de- 
pend upon  the  age  of  the  pupils,  the  importance  of  the  topic,  and 
||e  minuteness  and  thoroughness  with  which  it  is  to  be  treated. 

8.  Cultivate  in  the  class  a  fondness  for  reading  in  history  and 
biography. 


.A* 


CONTENTS. 


I 

* 

i 


SUGGESTIONS  TO  TEACHERS    '•         '         ' 
CHRONOLOGICAI.  TABLE  OF  SOVEREIGNS 


FACE. 
V 

•  «  • 

Vlll 


p^RT  I._ENGLAND  BEFORE  THE  NORMAN  CONQUEST. 


CHAVTB.K. 

1.    Early  Britain        .       •       ;       ' 
11     Britain  under  Roman  Occupation    . 

in      IaXON  conquests. -the  llEnARCHV 
VV.      SAXON   K.NOS.-DAN,SH   ^S-N^    ; 

*  v.„/-c <;axon  Kings  restored 

V.    Danish  Kings.  — oaxuw  «. 

Synopsis  for  Review     .       .       •       • 


1 

6 

12 
21 
28 

43 


PART  II.-THE  FEUDAL  PERIOD. 


I, 
11. 

III. 
IV. 


The  Norman  Family ^ 

The  Plantagenet  Family  •''*... 
The  Branch  of  Lancaster  '''[[,. 
The  Branch  of  York  •*'*'*.. 
Synopsis  for  Review  .  *  '  '  ^^  Important 
chronological  Table  of  Sovereigns  and  ^       ^ 

Events   

PART  in. -MODERN  ENGLAND. 

I.  The  Tudor  Family 

II  The  Stuart  Family  (Part  I.) 

HI.  THE  Commonwealth      .       • 

IV  The  Stuart  Family  (Part  u) 

'     r„rrLrCArTrLE  -op    S0VE;e.GNS    a;.,   I-^ORTANT 

Events  .       •       •       "      ,1      *  t  \  * 
V.    The  House  of  Brunswick  (Part  1.)  .       • 


45 
57 
81 

87 
92 

94 


97 

122 
141 

I5S 

160 
162 


1 1 


I*  t 

I 


HISTORY   OF   ENGLAND, 


■»  ♦    n» 


PART    I. 

ENGLAND   BEFORE  THE   NORMAN   CON- 

QUEST. 

A.D.  1066. 


CHAPTER  I. 
EARLY     BRITAIN. 


r 


GREAT  BRITAIN  is  the  geographical  name  of  the  island 
which  comprises  England,  Scotland,  and  Wales.    In  a 
political  sense  it  includes  also  Ireland  and  several  Great  Brit- 
other  islands  and  countries  in  various  parts  of  the 
world,  and  is -called  die  United  Kingdom  of  Great  Britain; 
also  the  British  Empire. 

2.  The  Island  of  Britain  was  known  to  the  ancients  several 
centuries  before  the  Christian  era,  and  was  visited  by  the 
Phoenician  and  Carthaginian  traders,  who  obtained  k°°^^.^^^ 
from  the  natives  various  commodities,  such  as  teanciens, 
skins,  lead,  and  tin.  Tin  was  used  with  copper  in  forming 
bronze,  — an  article  in  extensive  use  among  the  ancient  Un- 
ental  nations. 


|l^  b<^     if^)    ^y.A 


\ 


Early  name. 


HISTORY  OF  ENGLAND, 

3.  The  early  name  of  the  country  was  Albion,  signifying 
White  Isle  ;  suggested,  probably,  by  the  chalk-cliffs 
on  its  southern  coast.    The  Greeks  and  Romans 

called  it  Britain  (Britannia),  or  land  of  tin.  Some  writers, 
however,  derive  this  name  from  brith,  or  hrit,  painted ;  because 
the  inhabitants  were  accustomed  to  paint  or  stain  their  bodies 
with  a  ^)liie  dye. 

4.  The  first  known  inhabitants  of  Britain  were  of  the  Celtic 
race,  who  at  an  early  period  came  over  from  the  neighboring 
Early  inhab-  Continent, — probably  from  Gaul,  now  France.  The 
itants.  present  inhabitants  of  Wales  are  supposed  to  be 
regular  descendants  from  a  branch  of  Celts  called  Cimri. 
Though  now  called  Welsh  by  their  English  neighbors  and 
others,  they  still  call  themselves  Kimry,  or  Cimri. 

5.  The  Celts  were  a  lively,  quick-witted  people,  though  rude 
and  barbarous,  possessing  little  property  except  their  arms  and 
Character,  ^^^^^^  ^^  frequently  moving  from  place  to  place 
and  modc'of  in  pursuit  of  game,  pasturage,  and  plunder.  They 
life.  gj^yg  jj^jg  attention  to  the  cultivation  of  the  soil, 
but  lived  mostly  upon  wild  fruits  and  the  flesh  of  their  herds 
and  flocks.  Tlieir  dwellings  —  constructed  of  timber,  wicker- 
work,  and  thatch  —  were  circular  in  form,  with  a  conical  roof; 
and  were  built  in  groups,  and  surrounded  by  felled  trees. 

6.  The  people  were  divided  into  many  petty  tribes,  each 
with  its  king ;  and  these  tribes  were  often  at  war  with  one 
Government  another  and  with  their  neighbors,  in  which  they 
and  wars.  displayed  much  bravery  and  skill.  They  used 
wicker  shields,  swords  and  spears  of  iron  and  bronze,  and 
war-chariots  armed  with  scythes  and  hooks,  and  drawn  by  well- 
trained  horses. 

.  7.  The  religion  of  the  early  Britons,  called  Druidism,  was  a 
crael  superstition,  which  entered  into  all  the  affairs  of  life,  and 
Reiiffion  and  exerted  a  powerful  influence  in  the  formation  of 
priests.  their  character  and  institutions.     The  priests,  called 

Druids,  had  the  entire  control  of  all  religious  rites  and  aflairs, 


EARL  y  BRITAIN.  3 

the  administration  of  justice,  the  education  of  youth,  and  the 
settlement  of  difficulties  between  tribes  and  nations.  They 
exercised  almost  absolute  power  over  the  people,  and  punished 
severely  any  refusal  to  submit  to  their  decisions,  or  to  carry  out 
their  commands. 

8.  The  Druids  worshipped  several  deities,  and  some  of  the 
heavenly  bodies ;  taught  the  doctrine  of  the  transmigration  of 
souls;  and  on  great  occasions  offered  human  sacrifices,  con- 
fining their  victims  in  wicker  cages,  and  setting  Doctrines 
them  on  fire.  The  doctrines  and  mysteries  of  the  and  worship. 
Druids  were  not  committed  to  writing;  and  their  dwellings 
were  in  secluded  forests  of  oak,  which,  with  the  mistletoe  grow- 
ing upon  the  trees,  were  held  very  sacred.  At  Stonehenge,  on 
Salisbury  Plain,  in  Wiltshire,  Southern  England,  are  still  to  be 
seen  the  supposed  remains  of  a  Druidic  temple,  consisting  of 
an  altar,  surrounded  by  two  circular  rows  of  upright  stones,  sev- 
eral feet  in  height. 

9.  There  were  bards  who  celebrated  in  song  and  with  music 
the  genealogy  and  heroic  deeds  of  princes  and  leaders,  and 
who  kept  alive  among  the  people  the  love  of  liberty,  Bards  and 
and  the  courage  and  prowess  which  were  so  strik-  propnets. 
ingly  exhibited  in  all  their  confl[cts  and  dealings  with  other 
tribes  and  nations.  Prophets,  also,  pretended  to  foretell  future 
events ;  and  astronomy  was  a  prominent  subject  of  instruction 
among  the  Druids.  It  is  probable  that  these  prophets  made 
use  of  astrology  and  magic  in  their  religious  rites  and  cere- 
monies. 

10.  At  evening  on  the  ist  of  May,  when  the  fields  had  been 
sown,  at  the  ripening  of  the  crops  in  summer,  and  upon  the 
completion  of  the  harvest  in  autumn,  the  Druids 
were  accustomed  to  build  fires,  and  offer  sacrifices, 
upon  high  places,  to  secure  the  favor  of  their  deities  upon  the 
products  of  their  fields ;  and  from  these  practices  have  probably 
been  derived  the  English  festivals  of  May  Day,  Midsummer 
Eve,  and  Harvest  Home,  or  All  Halloween. 


Festivals. 


4  BIS  TORY  OF  ENGLAND. 

11.  The  Druids  were  numerous;  and  although  not,  strictly 
speaking,  the  ruling  class,  they  attained  considerable  intellectual 
The  Druids  development,  and  were  evidently  more  powerful 
M  leaden.  with  the  people  than  were  the  kings  and  chiefs ; 
and  their  influence  was  generally  for  peace  and  for  the  common 
welfare.  They  inculcated  implicit  obedience  to  their  rulers  and 
to  all  authority. 

12.  From  the  little  that  is  found  in  recorded  history  regard- 
ing the  Britons,  it  is  supposed  that  they  were  a  parfof  the  great 
Britons;  Indo-European  emigration  which  took  place  from 
their  origin,  the  East  in  remote  antiquity,  and  spread  over  the 
greater  part  of  Europe.  They  were  probably  not  the  first  in- 
habitants of  the  country.  In  caves  and  mounds  fragments  of 
rude  pottery  and  other  relics  have  been  found,  which  point  to 
an  untamed  prehistoric  race  as  the  eariier  occupants  of  the  land, 
whom  the  Britons  either  exterminated,  or  drove  northward. 

13.  When  the  Britons  were  first  known  to  the  other  European 
nations,  their  mode  of  life  was  rude  and  wild.    The  island  was 

spoken  of  as  a  land  of  vast  forests,  in  which  bears, 
wolves,  and  deer  were  numerous.  In  the  interior 
the  tribes  were  migratory  shepherds  and  herdsmen ;  but  near 
the  seacoast,  and  especially  on  the  southern  and  south-eastern 
shores  nearest  the  continent,  where  they  had  probably  come  in 
contact  with  other  peoples,  they  seemed  to  have  taken  some 
of  the  first  steps  towards  civilization.  Instead  of  the  rude  and 
scant  clothing  of  those  dwelling  inland,  they  made  a  kind  of 
coarse  cloth,  and  wore  tunics  and  trousers.  They  also  built 
better  habitations,  and  were  more  permanent  in  their  places  of 
abode.  Vast  herds  of  cattle  roamed  the  forests  and  pasture- 
lands;  and  horses  were  raised  in  great  numbers,  and  trained 
with  great  skill. 

14.  In  the  mining  of  tin,  lead,  and  copper,  they  were  very 
Mining  and  Successful ;  and  these  and  other  commodities  pro- 
trade,  duced  by  the  natives  brought  traders  from  Tyre, 
Sidon,  Carthage,  and  other  Eastern  countries,  which  must  have 


Civilization. 


EARLY  BRITAIN. 


brought  the  people  in  contact  with  customs  and  manners  more 
civilized  than  their  own.  The  preparation  and  movement  of 
the  huge  blocks  of  stone  used  in  the  Druidic  temples,  and  the 
manufacture  of  war  chariots,  and  swords  of  tin  and  copper,  are 
evidence  of  some  knowledge  of  the  mechanic  arts.  Pins, 
needles,  spoons,  and  many  other  articles  of  common  use,  made 
of  bone,  bronze,  and  jet,  have  been  found,  which  evidently 
belong  to  this  period.  Rings  and  bars  of  iron,  and  coins  of 
bronze,  were  used  for  money. 

15.  In  modern  English  there  are  but  few  remains  of  the 
Celtic  language,  and  those  are  found  in  some  names  of  places, 
and  perhaps  in  a  few  other  words ;  but  the  Welsh 
language  is  a  modernized  branch  of  the  British 
tongue.  This  language  has  a  rich  vocabulary,  and  the  remains 
of  its  early  poetry  are  remarkable  for  striking  images  and 
expressions. 

16.  Another  branch  of  the  Celts,  the  Gaels,  are  supposed  to 
have  settled  in  Ireland,  and  afterwards  in  Scotland.  Some  of 
the  principal  tribes  were  the  Scots,  so  called  from 
scuiteSy  or  sguits  (wanderers)  ;  the  Caledonians,  or 
dwellers  in  the  forests ;  and  the  Picts,  or  painted  people,  —  a 
clan  of  the  Caledonians. 


Language. 


The  Gaels. 


STONKUENGE  KESTORfiO." 


43-1 


BRITAIN  UNDER  ROMAN  OCCUR  A  TION. 


i 


CHAPTER  II. 

BRITAIN  UNDER  ROMAN  OCCUPATION. 

'If' 

B.C.  55  to  A.D.  430,-475  years. 

THE  inhabitants  of  the  southern  part  of  Britain  made 
greater  progress  in  the  arts  of  civilization  than  their 
The  Muth  northern  neighbors ;  and  became  so  famous  in  war, 
Britons.  that  they  were  invited  across  the  channel  by  the 
Gauls  to  assist  them  in  their  wars  with  the  Roman  general, 
Julius  Caesar.  Caesar  made  this  a  pretext  for  invading  Britain ; 
but  his  real  motive,  probably,  was  to  carry  his  arms  into  a  new 
country,  and  to  add  it  to  the  dominion  of  the  Roman  Empire. 

2.  In  the  summer  season,  B.C.  55,  Caesar,  with  eighty  ships 
and  ten  thousand  men,  approached  the  coast  of  Britain,  near 
c«.«r*i  first  the  present  site  of  Dover,  where  his  landing  was 
invasion.  fiercely  resisted  by  the  natives  at  the  water*s  edge. 
After  a  severe  conflict  the  Romans  landed,  drove  back  the 
Britons,  and  erected  fortifications  for  their  own  protection  and 
defence.  A  treaty  of  peace  was  made,  but  was  soon  after 
broken  by  the  natives  when  they  saw  that  a  violent  storm  had 
destroyed  several  of  the  ships  in  which  Caesar  and  his  army 
arrived,  also  others  which  had  followed  him  from  Gaul  with 
men  and  supplies.  After  one  or  two  more  sharp  engagements 
the  Britons  were  again  defeated,  and  both  parties  gladly  made 
another  treaty  of  peace  and  friendship.  Caesar  immediately 
refitted  a  few  of  his  shattered  ships,  placed  his  army  on  board, 
and  returned  to  Gaul,  having  been  in  Britain  only  about  three 
weeks,  and  at  no  time  very  far  out  of  ^  sight  of  the  shore. 
6 


3.  In  the  following  year  Caesar  returned  with  a  large  force 
to  continue  his  conquests,  and  to  chastise  the  faithless  Britons 
who   had   failed  to   keep  their  stipulations.     The  casar^s 
natives  opposed  him  in  large  numbers  under  Cas-  second  inva- 
woUon',  called  by  the  Romans  Cassivelau'nus,  —  a 
powerful  chief,  who  had  conquered  several  neighboring  tribes, 
and  who  was  now  at  the  head  of  a  kind  of  confederacy  of  states. 
But  the  Britons  could  not  long  withstand  the  Roman  mode  of 
warfare.    Oesar  pursued  them  across  the  Thames,  took  their 
capital,  St.  Alban's,  made  a  treaty  of  peace  with  CaswoUon,  and 
with  many  prisoners  returned  again  to  Gaul.    The  results  of 
Caesar's  two  exi^editions  to  Britain  were  simply  the  occupation 
of  a  small  part  of  tlie  island  for  a  short  time.     He  cannot  be 
called  its  conqueror. 

4.  For  nearly  a  century  Britain  was  unmolested  by  the  Ro- 
mans, and  during  this  period  some  of  the  native  kings  were 
conspicuous  in  liistory.     One  of  them,  Cunobeline,  Britain 

or  Cyrabeline,  f  jmished  the  name  and  subject  of  under  native 
one  of  Sliakspeare's  plays.    Some  of  Cymbeline's  '^^* 
coins,  bearing  his  own  image  and  inscription,  are  still  in  eidstence. 

5.  About  A.D.  43  the  Emperor  Claudius  sent  an  army  to 
Britain  under  Plautius  (Plau'-she-us),  who  made  extensive  con- 
quests ;  and  Claudius  himself  visited  the  island,  and  ^^^^^^^ 
received  the  submission  of  some  of  the  vanquished 

natives :  but  the  war  of  subjugation,  with  great  cruelties  on 
both  sides,  continued  for  many  years.  Car'adoc, 
or  Carac'tacus,  a  powerful  Welsh  chief,  successfully 
defied  the  Roman  power  for  a  long  time,  but  was  finally  de- 
feated, and  sent  as  prisoner  to  Rome. 

6.  In  the  reign  of  Nero,  Sueto'nius  overran  the  country,  and 
captured  Mona  (now  Anglesey) ,  —  an  island  on  the  coast  of 
Wales,  and  the  principal  seat  of  the  Druids.    The  suetonius; 
Britons  made  a  desperate  defence  ;  -the  women,  with   ***»"*• 
dishevelled  hair  and  burning   torches,  rushing   down  to  the 
water's  edge,  and  mingling  in  the  affray.     But  the  Romans  were 


Caradoc 


/ 


s 


If  IS  TORY  OF  ENGLAND, 


[7a 


78.1 


BRITAIN  UNDER  ROMAN  OCCUPATION 


f 


I 

It:' 
J 
( 


Boadicea. 


victorious,  and  the  destruction  of  the  place  was  complete. 
The  sacred  groves  were  cut  down,  and  the  Druids  were  burned 
in  the  fires  they  had  lighted  to  consume  the  invaders. 

7.  During  this  expedition  of  Suetonius,  Bo-ad-i-ce'a,  sister 
of  Caradoc,  and  queen  of  the  Ice'ni,  one  of  the  tribes  in  the 

eastern  part  of  the  island,  took  the  field,  at  the  head 
of  a  large  army,  to  revenge  the  shameful  treatment 
she  and  her  daughters  had  received  at  the  hands  of  the  Ro- 
mans. With  great  boldness  she  attacked  and  captured  Lon- 
don, which  had  then  become  an  important  trading- town,  and 
put  seventy  thousand  Romans  to  death.  But  her  victory  was 
of  short  duration ;  for  she  was  soon  after  defeated  by  Suetonius, 
when  a  merciless  slaughter  of  eighty  thousand  Britons  —  men, 
women,  and  children  —  took  place.  To  avoid  capture,  Boadicea 
ended  her  life  with  poison. 

8.  But  the  Roman  power  was  more  fully  established  in  Britain 
by  Agric'ola,  who  came  to  the  island  about  A.D.  78.  His 
Britain  victorious  legions  traversed  the  country  even  to  the 
onderAgric-  foot  of  the  Grampian  Hills;  and  he  sen:  a  fleet 
•^  around  the  north  of  Scotland,  and  down  the  west 
coast,  thus  first  establishing  to  the  Romans  the  fact  that  Britain 
is  an  island.  Under  this  ruler  the  people  were  encouraged 
to  cultivate  the  soil,  to  learn  some  of  the  useful  arts,  and  to 
adopt  a  more  civilized  mode  of  life. 

9.  But  the  occupation  of  the  country  by  the  Romans  was 
maintained  principally  by  the  presence  of  their  armies,  and  at 
Pictsand  times  with  varied  success.  Frequent  raids  took 
Scots.  place  from  the  northern  part  of  the  island  by  the 
Picts,  or  Caledonians,  and  by  the  Scots,  who  had  come  over 
Irom  the  north  of  Ireland.  These  people  were  wandering  tribes 
of  shepherds  and  hunters,  and  they  gave  the  Romans  and  Brit- 
ons much  trouble.  To  prevent  these  inroads,  Agricola  estab- 
Roman  lishcd  a  line  of  f«rts,  and  Antoni'nus  constructed  a 
walls.  ^jjii  of  earti^  and  stone  across  the  country  from  the 
Fridi  of  Forth  to  the  raoutli  of  the  Clyde.    Some  years  latci 


1 


another  wall  was  erected  by  Hddrian  from  Solway  Frith  to  the 
Tyne,  and  subsequently  this  was  strengthened  by  an  additional 
wall  by  the  Emperor  Sev^rus. 

10.  Britain  became  a  flourishing  province  under  Roman 
occupation,  which  covered  a  period  of  about  four  hundred  and 
seventy-five  years.  It  was  usually  the  policy  and  Roman  influ- 
practice  of  the  Romans  to  plant  their  own  institu-  encc. 
tions,  as  far  as  possible,  in  their  colonies,  and  to  furnish  from 
their  own  numbers  the  principal  officers  for  government  and 
administration.  The  people  of  Britain  were  generally  submis- 
sive from  necessity,  but  were  never  fully  subdued.  Though 
reduced  at  times  to  a  state  of  servitude,  the  severity  of  their 
treatment  was  much  mitigated  by  some  of  their  masters ;  and 
the  government  provided  for  them  by  the  Romans  was  probably 
better  than  they  tiad  ever  been  able  to  establish  among  them- 
selves. The  petty  tribes  had  formerly  wasted  their  strength, 
and  reduced  their  numbers,  by  their  numerous  wars  with  each 
other,  and  in  that  way  had  been  prevented  from  making  prog- 
ress and  improvement.  They  had  no  national  capital  or  centre, 
and  no  strong  bond  of  union  ;  but  under  Roman  control  their 
tribal  differences  were  lessened,  and  they  became  more  united 
as  a  whole  people. 

11.  The  Romans  were  road-builders;  and  they  constructed 
many  excellent  military  roads  in  Britain,  connecting  their  most 
important  towns  and  ports ;  and  so  thoroughly  were 
they  made,  that  the  course  of  a  portion  of  them  can 
be  traced  at  the  present  day,  and  they  constitute  some  of  the 
]:>rincipal  thoroughfares  of  England.  Lighthouses  were  erected 
along  the  coast  for  the  guidance  of  the  mariner. 

12.  The  towns  of  the  Britons  were  gready  improved  under 
Roman  influence  ;  and  they  were  adorned  with  temples,  theatres, 
market-places,  baths,  and  palaces.     It  is  supposed  Towns  and 
that  Westminster  Abbey,  in  London,  is  built  upon  *^«r  xwxn^. 
the  former  site  of  a  temple  erected  to  Apollo,  and  that  St.  Paul's 
Cathedral  stands  on  the  spot  once  occupied  by  the  Roman 


Roads,  '&c. 


lO 


HISTORY  OF  ENGLAND. 


78.] 


1!" 


t  - 

f; 

hi' 


temple  of  Diana.  Modern  excavations  for  sewers  and  deep 
foundations  in  London,  and  other  places  in  Britain,  frequently 
reveal  the  sites  and  ruins  of  Roman  villas,  camps,  forts,  walls, 
gates,  and  pavements  \  and  the  great  variety  of  articles  in  com- 
mon use  thus  found,  and  now  preserved  in  museums,  give  us 
some  indications  of  the  extent  to  which  the  conquerors  intro- 
duced their  mode  of  life  among  the  Britons.  There  are  arti- 
sans' tools,  balances  for  weighing,  wheel-tires,  bronze  horse-bells, 
ploughs,  locks  and  keys,  and  iron  nails,  swords  and  shields, 
spear-heads,  and  iron  manacles.  Among  articles  for  household 
and  personal  use,  are  lamps,  vases,  and  drinking-cups,  vials,  and 
other  glasswares,  shoes  and  their  latchets,  buckles,  armlets, 
beads,  rings,  brooches,  pins,  needles,  hairpins,  knitting-needles, 
and  spoons,  ear  and  tooth  picks,  and  knives.  Mile-stones  to 
mark  the  Roman  ways  have  been  discovered ;  also  cinerary 
urns,  and  fragments  of  a  great  variety  of  pottery. 

In  some  parts  of  London  the  Roman  pavements  and  other 
remains  are  found  about  eighteen  feet  below  the  present  surface 
of  the  streets. 

13.  More  attention  was  given  than  formerly  to  the  style  and 
appearance  of  dwelling-houses,  and  they  were  much  better 
Mode  of  liv-  adapted  for  the  comfort  and  convenience  of  their 
ing.  occupants.  Many  Britons  travelled  in  Gaul,  and 
visited  Rome,  and  came  home  with  improved  ideas  of  living. 
Glass  windows  were  introduced,  and  the  interior  of  the  walls 
of  houses  were  painted.  Plates,  goblets,  and  urns  must  have 
been  in  use,  as  fragments  of  them  have  been  occasionally 
unearthed.  Leaden  water-pipes  are  found ;  and  wells  are  now 
in  existence,  filled  with  water,  which  were  dug  by  the  Romans. 

14.  The  practice  of  painting  their  bodies,  common  among 
the  early  Britons,  was  now  discarded,  and  the  people  were  clad 
Changes  in  i"  l)etter  garments.  Schools  were  established  by 
habits.  Agricola  and  others,  and  the  British  youth  of  the 
higher  class  were  taught  the  Roman  tongue ;  but  the  common 
people,  in  their  own  affairs  and  intercourse,  stubbornly  refused 


4 


Mining. 


4ro]         BRITAIN  UNDER  ROMAN  OCCUPATION.  II 

to  use  the  language  of  their  masters,  but  still  employed  their  Own 
vernacular,  the  Celtic.  The  sciences  were  studied,  and  the  arts 
cultivated,  and  British  workmen  acquired  a  reputation  for  skill 
that  made  their  services  in  demand  on  the  Continent. 

15.  In  mining,  the  Romans  improved  upon  the  methods  of 
the  Britons,  and  became  producers  of  iron,  gold,  and  silver,  in 
addition  to  lead,  tin,  and  copper,  formerly  worked 
by  the  natives.  At  Worcester  there  have  been  dis- 
covered the  remains  of  a  Roman  iron-furnace  ;  and  near  it,  as 
well  as  at  Birmingham  and  other  localities,  are  now  found  large 
heaps  of  cinders  and  waste  thrown  off  from  such  furnaces. 
Rusty  Roman  coins  are  also  found  in  considerable  numbers 
among  these  ruins.  These  metals,  together  with  chalk  and 
lime,  were  exported  in  large  quantities  to  the  various  provinces 
of  the  Roman  Empire. 

16.  After  the  Romans  so  effectually  vanquished  the  Druids, 
they  introduced  their  own  religion  among  the  natives  of  the 
island.  But  in  course  of  time  Christianity  began  to 
get  a  foothold  in  Britain.  At  what  particular  time 
it  was  introduced  is  a  matter  of  much  uncertainty:  perhaps  it 
took  place  in  the  second  century.  In  the  fourth  century  British 
bishops  and  ecclesiastics  became  known  for  their  learning  and 
influence  ;  and  at  a  religious  council  at  Aries,  in  France,  bishops 
were  present  as  representatives  from  Britain.  It  is  also  said 
that  the  Bible  was  translated  into  the  British  tongue  for  common 
use.  Some  of  the  violent  persecutions  of  Christians  at  Rome 
by  the  Pagan  emperors  extended  to  Britain ;  and  St.  Alban  is 
said  to  have  been  an  heroic  example  of  Christian  martyrdom. 

17.  But,  eariy  in  the  fifth  century,  vast  hordes  of  barbarians 
from  Northern  Europe  were  threatening  Rome  and  her  prov- 
inces ;  and  the  empire  gave  many  signs  of  early  xhe  Romans 
dissolution.  These  alarming  dangers  compelled  ^called, 
her  to  call  home  her  forces ;  and  about  A.D.  420  the  last  of 
her  legions  left  Britain,  and  returned  no  more. 


Christianity. 


449-1         SAXON  CONQUESTS,^  THE  HEPTARCHY.  13 


I'  f 


CHAPTER  III. 

SAXON  CONQUESTS.  — THE  HEPTARCHY. 
420  to  827,-407  years. 

NO  sooner  had  the  Romans  left  the  island  than  the  Picta 
and  Scots  renewed  their  warfare  upon  the  Britons.    The 
latter  had  lost  somewhat  of  their  early  warlike  spirit, 

Picts  And 

Scots  and  were  unable  to  repel  'their  northern  invaders, 

troublesome,  ^yj^j^  ^  merciless  foe  on  one  side,  and  the  ocean 
on  the  other,  ihey  appUed  to  Rome  for  assistance ;  but  their 
request  was  refused. 

2.  During  the  last  century  or  two  of  the  Roman  occupation, 
the  east  coast  of  Britain  had  often  been  visite4  by  Saxon  free- 
Saxon  free-  bootcrs  and  pirates  from  the  north-western  part  of 
booters.  Germany.  They  had  made  some  settlements,  and 
had  caused  the  Romans  considerable  annoyance  and  trouble.  In 
their  dire  distress  the  Britons  now  turned  to  the  Saxons  for  aid. 

3.  The  history  of  this  period  is  mingled  with  much  that  is 
probably  but  little  more  than  wild  romance.  But  the  com- 
Hengistand  monly  -  received  account  is,  that  a  Saxon  army, 
Horsa-  Under  the  command  of  two  brothers,  Hengist  and 
Horsa,  — invited,  perhaps,  by  the  British  prince  Vor'tigem,— 
came  over  in  A.D.  449  ;  and  by  their  assistance  the  Picts  and 
Scots  were  driven  back  to  their  own  territories. 

sa^oo  COB-  4-  Tl^e  Saxons,  finding  the  country  superior  to 
quest  of  their  own,  invited  over  their  countrymen  from  the 
Britain.  continent ;  and  for  some  years  there  continued  to 

arrive  re-enforcements  of  Saxons,  Jutes  Qutlanders) ,  and  Angles, 


12 


/ 


A 


King  Arthur. 


or  Engles,  from  the  southern  part  of  Denmark.  These  people, 
in  the  course  of  time,  took  possession  of  Britain,  reduced  the 
inhabitants  to  submission,  and  compelled  them  to  leave  the 
country,  or  to  retreat  to  the  mountains  for  safety. 

From  the  Angles  is   derived  the  name  England;  that  is, 
Angle-land. 

5.  Violent  contests  between  the  Saxons  and  the  Britons 
took  place,  and  the  land  was  the  scene  of  bitter  strife  for  more 
than  a  hundred  and  fifty  years.  King  Arthur,  a 
British  champion,  was  a  most  determined  antagonist 
of  the  Saxons,  and  held  them  in  check  for  many  years,  and  is 
said  to  have  defeated  them  in  twelve  different  engagements. 
The  history  of  this  renowned  prince  and  his  Knights  of  the 
Round  Table  has  been  much  celebrated  in  poetry  and  romance, 
but  is  regarded  by  many  as  fiction.  Lord  Bacon  observes, 
that  "  in  his  acts  there  is  enough  of  truth  to  make  him  famous, 
besides  what  is  fabulous."  Some  of  the  Celtic  tribes  were  un- 
conquered  and  unconquerable,  and  fled  to  the  mountains  of 
Wales,  where  their  descendants  are  the  present  inhabitants  of 
that  country. 

6.  These  Saxon  invaders  were  heathen,  and  they  endeavored 
to  destroy  whatever  of  Christianity  was  left  in  the  saxons  and 
island  by   the   Romans.     Churches  were   burned  Christianity, 
bishops  and  priests  were  slain  at  the  altar,  and  an  indiscriminate 
massacre  of  the  nobility  and  the  people  took  place. 

7.  As  the  Saxon  tribes  came  to  Britain   at  different  times 
and  under  different  leaders,  they  did  not  form  one  united  king- 
dom, but  several  petty  states,  varying  at  different  The  hep- 
times  in  number  and  extent.     Seven  of  these  lead-  **^^^y- 

ing  states,  or  kingdoms,  are  known  in  history  as  the  Saxon 
heptarchy;  and  their  names  were,  i.  Kent,  the  comer  king- 
dom ;  2.  Sussex,  the  South  Saxons  ;  3.  Essex,  the  East  Saxons  ; 
4.  Wessex,  the  West  Saxons;  5.  East  Anglia,  the  land  of  the 
Angles  in  the  East ;  6.  Northumbria,  the  land  north  of  the 
Umber,  or  Humber ;  7.  Mercia,.  the  border-land,  or  the  land 
marched  over. 


H 


14 


HISTORY  OF  ENGLAND. 


[457. 


Ethelbert. 


Kent  was  settled  by  the  Jutes ;  Essex,  Wessex,  and  Sussex, 
by  the  Saxons ;  and  East  AngUa,  Mercia,  and  Northumbria,  by 
the  Angles.  The  Britons  and  Scots  called  all  these  tribes 
Saxons,  and  they  have  been  quite  generally  so  called  in  history  ; 
but  among  themselves  they  early  adopted  the  general  name  of 
the  English. 

8.  The  establishment  of  these  states  occupied  a  period  of 
about  a  century  and  a  half;  and  Kent,  the  first  Saxon  kingdom, 
was  founded  A.D.  45  7»  by  Hengist,  in  less  than  ten 
years  after  his  first  landing  uix)n  the  island.  Row- 
ena,  his  beautiful  daughter,  married  Vortigern,  the  British  chief; 
and  she  is  said  to  have  had  great  influence  over  her  husband 
and  her  father  in  the  stirring  events  of  that  period. 

Kent  occupied  a  small  corner  in  the  south-eastern  part  of 
Britain.  It  was  a  region  of  great  fertility  and  of  many  natural 
advantages,  and  for  more  than  a  hundred  years  was 
an  important  and  influential  state.  One  of  its  kings 
best  known  in  history  was  Ethelbert,  who  married  Bertha,  a 
Christian  lady,  and  a  daughter  of  Caribert,  King  of  Paris.  It 
was  into  this  kingdom  that  Christianity  was  first  introduced 
among  the  Saxons,  probably  about  A.D.  597,  by  Augustine,  a 
Benedictine  monk  sent  from  Rome  for  that  purpose,  with  several 
companions,  by  Pope  Gregory  I.  It  is  related  that  once,  while 
passing  through  the  market-place  of  Rome,  Gregory,  then  a 
priest,  observed  some  British  slaves  for  sale,  noticeable  for  their 
fair  complexion  and  light  hair.  "  Who  are  these  ?  "  said  Greg- 
ory.  "  Angles,"  replied  the  slave-merchants.  "  Not  Angles, 
but  Angeis,  they  shall  be,"  replied  Gregory ;  and  he  formed  the 
plan  of  sending  the  gospel  to  Britain,  where  it  had  once  been 
introduced  during  the  i>eriod  of  Roman  occupation ;  but  it  had 
since  given  way  before  the  heathenism  of  the  Saxons.  Being 
elected  Pope  not  long  afterwards,  he  proceeded  to  carry  out 
his  project  of  missionary  labor. 

Ethelbert  was  at  first  opposed  to  the  new  religion,  but  after- 
wards became  one  of  its  first  converts ;  and  his  royal  example 


477.1        SAXON  CONQUESTS.  — THE  HEPTARCHY.  15 

was  soon  followed  by  the  greater  part  of  his  subjects.  Augus- 
tine was  made  Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  the  Saxon  capital, 
with  supreme  power  over  all  the  British  churches;  and  that 
city  has  sibce  continued  the  ecclesiastical  metropolis,  of  Great 
Britain.  Not  long  afterwards,  the  spread  of  Christianity  was 
quite  rapid  and  general  among  the  Saxons.  The  idols  of  their 
temples  were  destroyed,  and  the  temples  themselves  converted 
into  Christian  churches.  Meantime  the  Britons,  or  Welsh, 
occupying  the  western  side  of  the  island,  who  had  been  con- 
verted to  Christiaftity  by  the  Romans,  had  never  fallen  back  to 
heathenism,  but  had  continued  in  their  new  faith,  and,  with 
bishops  and  other  officials,  had  kept  up  their  separate  ecclesi- . 
astical  organizations. 

Ethelbert  reigned  more  than  fifty  years ;  and  he  subjugated 
several  of  the  neighboring  states  after  many  fierce  contests  with 
Ceaulin  (Keaulin),  King  of  Wessex,  and  others.  He  prepared 
a  code  of  written  laws  for  his  people,  in  which  penalties  for  a 
long  list  of  offences  were  prescribed  with  much  minuteness ; 
and  it  is  said  that  the  people  were  generally  happy,  and  that 
property  was  well  protected  by  law.  His  marriage  with  a  French 
princess,  and  his  intercourse  with  the  ecclesiastics  from  Rome, 
naturally  led  him  to  encourage  his  subjects  to  cultivate  an 
acquaintance  with  the  people  of  France,  Italy,  and  other  coun- 
tries upon  the  Continent,  which  undoubtedly  had  a  civilizing 
mfluence  upon  his  people.  The  reign  of  Ethelbert  was  bene- 
ficial to  his  subjects,  and  honorable  to  himself.  But  many  of 
his  successors  were  conspicuous  only  for  their  wars,  their  treach- 
ery, and  their  cruelty. 

9.  Sussex,  south-west  of  Kent,  was  founded  in  477  by  Ella, 
a  brave  Saxon  chief,  upon  whom  the  people  bestowed  the  title 
of  Bretwalda,  or  defender  of  Britain,  thus  showing 
his  superiority  in  the  confederacy  of  chieftains. 
This  title  was  also  borne  by  Ethelbert  and  six  others.  Cissa, 
the  son  of  Ella,  was  said  to  have  had  a  reign  of  the  extraordinary 
length  of  seventy-six  years. 


Sussex. 


i6 


HISTORY  OF  ENGLAND. 


[547- 


I  1 


10    Cerdic,  another  valiant  Saxon,  and  a  progenitor  of  the 
present  royal  family  of  England,  founded  Wessex  in  519-    Ih.^ 
kingdom  bordered  upon  the  Celtic  tnbes  who  had 
w««e«.         ^^^  Ax\sm  to  the  western  side  of  the  island,  and 
who  offered  a  most  stubborn  resistance  to  Saxon  invasion,  espe- 
cially under  the  renowned  Prince  Arthur,  who  checked  the 
advances  of  Cerdic.     Wessex  was  a  conspicuous  state  ;   and 
one  of  its  kings,  Ina,  for  neariy  forty  years  was  so  distmguished 
for  his  humane  treatment  of  the  Britons,  and  for  his  excellent 
system  of  laws,  that  his  reign  is  regarded  as.  one  of  the  most 
successful  of  the  Heptarchy.     Another  sovereign,  Egbert,  after- 
wards united  all  the  states  in  one  kingdom. 

II.  Essex,  including  Middlesex,  became  a  kingdom  in  526  ; 
and  one  of  its  kings,  Sebert,-a  nephew  of  Ethelbert  of  Kent 
—  is  said  to  have  built  Christian  churches  to  St. 
Essex.  pgjgj.  g^ji  S(  Paul  in  London,  on  the  sites  of  the 

Roman  temples  to  Apollo  and  Diana,  where  now  stand  West- 
minster Abbey  and  St.  Paul's  Cathedral. 

la.  North  of  the  Humber  was  the  little  British  state  of 
Deira  and  still  farther  north,  and  extending  into  Scotland,  was 
Northum  Bernicia.  In  the  latter,  Ida,  a  chief  of  the  Angles, 
bri..  landed  with  many  followers  in  547.  and  subsequently 

the  two  states  were  united  under  the  name  of  Northumbria.     It 
was  an  important  kingdom,  with  a  varied  and  thrilling  history, 
havin"  many  wars  with  the  Picts,  Scots,  and  Welsh,  and  was  at 
times  at  the  head  of  the  Heptarchy.     Its  greatest  king  was 
Edwin,  son  of  Ella,  King  of  Deira.     He  married  Ethelburga, 
daughter  of  Ethelbert  of  Kent,  and  did  much  for  the  improve- 
ment of  his  people.    Under  the   influence  of  his  wife  and 
Paulinus,  a  bishop  who  had  accompanied  her  from  Kent  he 
embraced  Christianity,  and  built  a  church  on  the  site  where 
now  stands  the   famous  York   Minster.     Pauhnus  was  made 
Archbishop  of  York,  the  capital,  successively,  of  Deira   and 
Northumbria,  and  formerly  also  the  capital  of  Roman  Britain, 
and  the  residence  of  Hadrian,  Severus,  and  other  emperors 


573.]       SAXON  CONQUESTS.  — THE  HEPTARCHY.  17 


East  Anglia. 


during  their  sojourn  upon  the  island.  Edwin  is  said  to  have 
built  a  stronghold  on  the  site  of  the  present  Edinburgh  Castle  ; 
and  from  him  the  city  took  its  name,  which  was  originally 
Edwinesburg.  Edwin  was  killed  in  a  fierce  battle  which  he 
fought  with  Penda,  King  of  Mercia,  and  Caedwalla  (Kedwdlla), 
a  Welsh  chieftain. 

13.  Sigebert,  King  of  East  Anglia,  which  was 
founded  in  575,  established  a  school  in  644,  which 
afterwards  became  the  University  of  Cambridge. 

14.  The  midland  state  of  the  Heptarchy  was  Mercia,  which 
began  in  586  ;  and  its  position  exposed  it  to  numer-   ^^^^.^ 

ous  wars  with  the  other  Saxon  kingdoms,  and  with 

the  Britons  in  Wales.     It  was  the  largest,  and  at  times  one  of 

the  most  powerful,  of  the  states. 

15.  After  the  Heptarchy  had  continued  for  more  than  two 
centuries,  Egbert,  a  descendant  of  Cerdic,  ascended  the  throne 
of  Wessex  in  800.     Owing  to  troubles  in  the  king-   ^^^^ 
dom,  he  had  been  an  exile  for  some  time  at  the 

court  of  Charlemagne  (sharl-mahn)  in  France,  where  he  had 
carefully  studied  the  art  of  war  and  the  science  of  government. 
He  was  warmly  supported  by  the  people,  and  by  his  prudence 
and  valor  soon  succeeded  in  uniting  all  the  kingdoms  into  one 
monarchy,  in  827,  under  the  name  of  England.  But  Egbert 
and  several  of  his  successors  still  called  themselves  Kings  of 
Wessex.  Some  of  the  other  states  continued  for  a  time  to  have 
kings  or  chiefs  of  their  own  ;  but  they  were  tributary  to  Egbert, 
who  was  the  recognized  head  of  the  new  kingdom. 

16.  The  hiLtory  of  the  Heptarchy  portrays  the  slow  and  toil- 
some steps  by  which  the  Saxon  sea-rovers  gained  a  footing  in 
Britain,  and  laid  the  foundation  of  the  English  gov-  ^^^  ^^^^^^ 
ernment  and  character.  They  were  a  people  of  in- 
domitable courage  and  energy,  knowing  no  defeat,  and  acknowl- 
edging no  master.  By  sea  and  by  land  they  exhibited  the  most 
astonishing  intrepidity  and  daring  ;  and  the  ferocity  with  which 
they  betook  themselves  to  depredation,  plunder,  and  cruelty, 


A 


1  } 

i 


i3 


HISTORY  OF  ENGLAND, 


[827. 


1.1 


made  'them  the  terror  of  every  people  among  whom  they 

appeared. 

The  early  Saxons  were  of  large  size,  with  fair  complexion, 
light  hair,  and  blue  eyes.  They  were  intemperate  in  their  habits, 
and  often  given  to  rioting  and  disorder.  But  after  they  had 
become  accustomed  to  live  in  communities,  and  had  abandoned 
somewhat  their  wandering  habits  and  their  piratical  practices, 
and  had  come  under  the  influences  of  Christianity,  they  began 
gradiially  to  acquire  habits  of  social  order  and  of  peace. 

17.  The  government  of  the  Saxon',  in  Britain  was  not  abso- 
lute.   The  king  or  chief  was  elected,  though  generally  taken 

from  the  family  of  his  predecessor;   and  usually 
Oovemment.  ^^^  ^j^^.^^  seemed  to  fall  upon  the  most  worthy 

one,  without  strict  regard  to  nearness  of  kinship.  He  was 
chosen  by  the  Witenagemote,  or  VVitan,  — an  assembly  of  wise 
men  composed  of  the  nobles  and  higher  orders,  including,  after 
the  introduction  of  Christianity,  the  bishops  and  abbots.  This 
body  assisted  the  king  in  the  affairs  of  state  and  in  the  adminis- 
tration of  justice ;  while  lower  tribunals  in  the  shires  or  coun- 
ties attended  to  local  affairs.  Fines  of  different  degrees  were 
the  usual  penalties  for  all  the  various  grades  of  misdemeanor 
and  crime,  even  for  the  taking  of  human  life.  Women  were 
comparatively  well  treated.  They  could  sue  and  be  sued,  and 
inherit  and  sell  property. 

18.  The  people  were  divided  into  three  classes,  the  highest 

of  which  comprised  the  nobles  of  high  birth  and 
The  people.  ^^^.^^  position,  and  the  Thanes  (rhegns),  — a 
lower  order,  who  owned  or  occupied  considerable  land,  and 
who  rendered  service  to  the  king  and  higher  nobles. 

The  Freemen,  called  Churls  (Ceorles),  were  principally  hus- 
bandmen who  occupied  the  land  of  the  higher  classes,  for  which 
they  paid  rent,  chiefly  in  kind.  They  were  obliged  to  serve  in 
the  army  in  case  of  invasion  or  war. 

The  slaves  constituted  the  most  numerous  class,  and  were 
principally  captives  taken  from  the  Celtic  tribes  in  war  and 


827.]       SAXON  CONQUESTS,-- THE  HEPTARCHY,     .    19 

plundering  raids,  and  a  few  people  who  were  sold  into  bondage 
on  account  of  inability  to  pay  their  debts,  or  fines  imposed  for 
misdemeanor.  They  were  subjected  to  severe  labor  in  the 
household  and  on  the  farm,  and  were  badly  treated ;  but  they 
could  buy  their  freedom  if  able  to  do  so. 

19.  Tlie  religion  of  the  Saxons,  when  they  came  to  Britain, 
partook  of  their  own  wild  and  fierce  nature.  Woden  was  their 
principal  god,  who  was  the  giver  of  warlike  courage  ^^^^.^.^^^ 
and  victory  ;  and  to  him  all  the  families  of  the  kings 
traced  their  origin.  Thor,  like  the  Roman  Jupiter,  was  the 
Thunderer,  and  the  god  of  the  sky  and  air  ;  and  numerous  other 
gods  and  goddesses  were  worshipped.  The  people  believed  in 
a  future  state,  and  thought  those  who  fell  in  battle  would  enter 
at  once  the  region  of  bliss,  where  they  would  be  allowed  to 
torment  their  enemies,  and  to  quaff  intoxicating  drinks  from  the 
skulls  of  their  fallen  foes.  They  were  very  superstitious,  and 
generally  believed  in  witchcraft  and  fortune-telling. 

In  the  common  English  names  of  the  days  of  the  week,  we 
retain  the  names  of  some  of  the  principal  Saxon  deities,  to 
whose  worship  particular  days  were  set  apart.  The  sun  and  the 
moon  give  us  Sunday  and  Monday  ;  Tuisco,  Tuesday ;  Wednes- 
day and  Thursday  are  named  from  Woden  and  Thor ;  Friday 
from  Freya,  the  wife  of  Woden ;  and  Seator,  a  marine  deity, 
gives  name  to  Saturday. 

20.  The  Saxons  cultivated  the  soil,  and  raised  cattle,  sheep, 
swine,  and  fowls,  in^abundance.  They  were  also  iron,  gold,  and 
silver  smiths,  and  carpenters,  shoemakers,  bakers,  ^^^^  ^^  ^.^^^ 
and  cooks.  Their  dwellings  were  rude  huts  for  the 
common  people  ;^ut  there  were  houses  of  more  comfort  and 
convenience  for  We  higher  classes.  They  wore  tunics  and 
cloaks  of  linen  aimwol,  also  shoes.  The  hair  of  the  noble- 
women was  curled  wiftTirons,  and  that  of  the  men  was  parted 
in  the  middle.  The  food  consisted  of  meat,  fish,  wheat  and 
barley  bread,  and  fruits ;  but  the  poorer  classes  were  not  able 
to  use  much  meat  or  wheaten  bread.    Mead,  ale,  and  sour  milk 


I 


30 


HIS  TORY  OF  ENGLAND. 


[827. 


were  the  common  drinks.  Silver  coins  of  this  period  are  still 
in  existence ;  but  they  probably  had  none  of  gold,  and  perhaps 
not  of  copper. 

21    There  is  no  evidence  that  the  Saxons  brought  a  xwitten 
langu'age  with  them  to  Britain;  but,  during  the  period  of  the 
Heptarchy,  learning  received  some  attention  from  a 
L'dTtem"       few  of  the  higher  classes,  although  the  common 
tare.  people  showed  little  fondness  for  knowledge  or  for 

books  Hence  a  few  names  only  in  literature  have  come  down 
to  us  from  this  period.  Gildas,  a  British  historian,  lived  m  the 
sixth  century;  C^dmon  (K^dmon),  an  Anglo-Saxon  poet  who 
wrote  upon  biblical  and  scripture  subjects,-  died  about  680 ; 
and  Bede  (since  called  the  "  Venerable  Bede  "),  a  very  learned 
scholar,  wrote  an  ecclesiastical  history  of  the  Angles  eariy  m 
the  eighth  century,  and  some  other  works,  including  a  Saxon 
version  of  the  Gospel  of  St.  John. 


■■\ 


CHAPTER  IV. 


SAXON  KINGS.- DANISH   INCURSIONS. 


Egbert. 
Ethelwolf. 
Ethelbald. 
Ethclbert. 
Ethelred  L 


827-1017,-190  years. 

Alfred* 

Edward  the  Elder. 

Athelstan. 

Edmund  I. 

Edred. 


Edwy. 

Edgar. 

Edward  the  Martyr.  ^ 

Ethelred  \\. 

Edmund  II.  (Ironside). v^ 


SCARCELY  had  Egbert  established  and  regulated  his  in- 
fant  monarchy  (827)  when  he  found  himself  assailed  by 
formidable  enemies  in  the   Danes,  or  Northmen,  Danish  in- 

*"*""  r^^i..,--,    :«    cursions. 

whose  depredations  form  a  prominent  feature  m 
the  early  history  of  England,  and  who  continued  for  upwards 
of  two  centuries  to  be  a  scourge  to  the  country.  The  swift 
ships  of  these  bold  freebooters,  bearing  the  ominous  standard 
of  the  Black  Raven,  became  the  terror  of  every  bay  and  inlet 
on  the  coast.  The  object  of  their  early  expeditions  was  plun- 
der ;  but  afterwards  they  began  to  make  settlements,  and  to 
wage  war  with  the  people  for  the  possession  of  the  soil. 

2  Egbert  had  fierce  conflicts  with  the  Danes ;  but,  although 
once  defeated  by  them,  he  finally  gained  a  si^al  Egbert  vie 
victory  over  them  and  their  allies  the  Welsh.     His  • 
death  occurred  soon  after,  and  he  was  succeeded  by  his  son 

Ethelwolf. 

3  From  838  to  871  the  throne  was  occupied  successively 
by  Ethelwolf  and  his  three  sons,  Ethelbald.  DanUh  '.id. 
Ethelbert,   and  Ethelred.     During  these  four  "»»"«  • 
reigns  the  country  continued  to  be  in  a  constant  state  of  alarm 


HISTORY  OF  ENGLAND. 


[871. 


" 


22 

from  the  frequent  and  oftentimes  sudden  raids  of  the  Danish 
Idventrei  Id  pirates,  whose  path  was  everywhere  marked  by 
robbery,  burning,  and  murder. 

Th.  reien  of  Alfred  the  Great,  the  youngest  son  of 
Etl;  Jd    L'^he  sixth  king  of  England,  which  began  in  87. 
Ethe  wdf,  an  ^     ^^^^  ^ra  in  the  early  lustory  of  the 

Alfred  and      •0""='  &  defeated  the  Danes  m 

the  Dane..      monarchy.     In  one  year  ne  ucic 
.:„!,»  battles      But  by  a  new  irruption  they  extended   their 
eight   battles.     »">•  "j  „  compelled 

ravages,  and  forced  him  to  -l-c-t  a  peac-    He  w  p^  ^^^ 

*    „..^ir  Kic  «;afetv  for  many  months  m  an  ousi-uit  yj 

^tl£^^L  the  habit  of  a  peasant;  and  lived  in  a 
country,  disguisea  m  situation  the 

herdsman's  cottage  as  a  servant.     In  this  humD 
herdsman's  wife  is  said,  on  one  occasion  to  have  ordered  h 
to  take  care  of  some  cakes  that  were  baking  by  the  hre ,  Dui 
t  Crhis  trust,  and  let  them  bum,  for  which  she  severely 
reprimanded  him. 

5.  Success  having  rendered  his  ~es  rem^^^^^^^ 
1     »^  »,nvinff  eained  some  advantages,  he  left  his  retreat ,  ana, 
lowers  having  gamed  ^^  discover  the  state  of  the  hostile  army, 

S"-       he  entered  the  Danish  camp  in  the  ^-^^J^ 
harper.     He  excited  so  much  interest  by  his  musu:al    alen^. 
l,The  was  introduced  to  Guthrun,  the  Danish  pnnce,  and  re 
that  he  '^as  'ntroau  discovered  the  unguarded 

ma  ned  with  him  some  days,     ndvuig  ,,„„„..  and  with 

condition  of  the  Danes,  he  returned  to  his  adherents,  and  wuh 

:  large  force  attacked  his  ^;^^^^^j::i';:'^:\^t^ 
,,em  .vith  g^eat^Uug  ter     ^re^  l^omise^^^^^^^^^         ^^^^ 

terr  tory  for  a  home,  it  mey  wouiu  c  Aifi-pa  as- 

L  an^d  his  followers  ^f  j^^rS^.te^f  me  ^f 
si-med  them  the  eastern  part  of  Mercia,  givmg 
olinelagh,  which  they  occupied  for  several  years. 

6    After  having  restored  tranquillity  to  his  distracted  king- 
il  te  emlyed  himself  in  cultivating  the  arts  of  peace,  and 

condiuon  of  '«^^""f  J        barbarism.    Cities  and  towns 

the  people,      ness,  ignorancc,  diiu  u»*ii^  ,^„„Uf 

which  had  been  destroyed  by  the  Danes  were  rebuilt,  a  reguU 


pi  i 


i 


893] 


SAXON  KINGS, 


23 


militia  was  organized,  and  ships  of  war  were  constructed  to  pro- 
tect the  coast.  Men  of  learning,  and  of  skill  in  the  various  arts, 
were  invited  from  other  countries,  that  he  might  avail  himself 
of  their  wisdom  and  counsel. 

7.  After  a  few  years,  the  reign  of  peace  was  again  interrupted 
by  war.  Guthrun  died ;  and,  soon  after,  his  followers  were 
found  aiding  their  countrymen  in  new  expeditions  Danish  raids 
against  England  for  plunder  and  pillage.  In  893  «newea. 
the  famous  sea-king  Hastings,  with  a  fleet  of  two  hundred  and 
fifty  ships,  appeared  upon  the  coast,  and  for  more  than  three 
years  continued  to  be  the  terror  of  all  England.  Some  of  the 
inhabitants  joined  the  invaders;  but,  after  many  desperate 
engagements,  Alfred  was  victorious,  and  the  vanquished  sea- 
rovers  were  compelled  to  retire. 

8.  The  few  remaining  years  of  Alfred's  reign  were  spent  in 
most  judicious  measures  for  the  improvement  of  his  Alfred's  last 
kingdom  and  people ;  and  he  died  in  901,  after  a  ^^y^- 
reign  of  thirty  years. 

9.  The  testimony  of  history  is  unanimous  in  praise  of  this  the 
most  excellent  of  England's  sovereigns.     A  successful  warrior, 

having  fought  in  person  more  than  fifty  battles  by  a  warrior 

land  and  by  sea,  and  having  taken  the  first  steps  to-  ^"^^^"***"- 
wards  a  standing  army  and  a  navy  for  England,  — 

he  was  still  greater  in  the  arts  of  civiUzation  and  peace.  Some 
writers  ascribe  to  him  the  first  division  of  England  into  coun- 
ties ;  but  it  is  more  than  probable  that  a  similar  division  existed 
at  a  much  earlier  date.  He  collected  the  laws  of  the  Saxons, 
and  formed  them  into  a  new  code,  and  established  a  tribunal 
for  the  administration  of  justice,  which  may,  perhaps,  have  sug- 
gested to  a  later  sovereign  (Henry  H.)  the  trial  by  jury. 

10.  Navigation  and  commerce,  manufactures  and  Trade,  man- 
useful  inventions,  found  a  liberal  patron  in  Alfred ;  ufactures, 
and  he  was  himself  the  originator  of  a  device  for  '^^^^^^^^' 
measuring  time,  clocks  and  watches  being  then  un- 
known.   For  this  purpose  he  used  wax  candles,  with  notches  at 


I 


24 


HISTORY  OF  ENGLAND. 


t92S 


941-1 


SAXON  A7NCS.^ DANISH  INCURSIONS, 


25 


regular  distances,  which  by  their  burning  measured  the  inter- 
tervals  of  time ;  and,  to  protect  them  from  currents  of  air,  he 
enclosed  them  in  lanterns  of  thin  horn.  He  also  encouraged 
the  people  to  improve  their  dwellings  and  churches,  and  to 
adopt  many  conveniences  of  life  to  which  they  had  been  un- 
A  friend  of  accustomed.  As  a  friend  of  learning,  his  influence 
learninK.  ^^s  highly  uscful.  He  was  the  patron,  and  perhaps 
the  founder,  of  the  University  of  Oxford.  He  also  instituted 
schools ;  and,  for  the  instruction  of  his  people,  he  translated  a 
number  of  works  into  the  Saxon  language,  and  ordered  that 
"  all  good  and  useful  books  "  then  written  in  Latin  should  be 
changed  to  the  language  of  the  people. 

II.  The  character  of  Alfred  shines  forth  with  distinguished 
lustre  in  a  dark  age.  He  was  one  of  the  greatest  and  best 
Hischarac-  sovereigns  that  ever  sat  on  a  throne,  —  equally 
terand  excellent  in  his  private  and  his  public  character. 

KreatneM.  jj^  ^^  distinguished  for  his  personal  accomplish- 
ments both  of  body  and  mind,  and  is  reputed  the  greatest  war- 
rior, legislator,  and  scholar  of  the  age  in  which  he  lived. 

iT  Alfred  was  succeeded  in  901  by  his  son  Edward,  sur- 
named  the  Elder,  from  his  being  the  first  English  monarch 
Edward'i  ^^  ^^^^  name.  He  resembled  his  father  in  military 
genius  j  and  his  reign  was  a  continued  but  success- 
ful struggle  against  the  Northumbrians  and  Danes, 
who  were  powerful  in  the  north  of  England.  By  his  conquests 
he  added  to  his  dominions  several  states  which  before  had  been 
merely  tributary,  and  he  was  the  first  sovereign  who  assumed 
the  tide  of  IJJng  of  all  England. 

13.  Athelstan,  an  able  and  popular  sovereign,  son  of  Ed- 
ward the  Elder  (925),  was  successful  in  his  wars  with  the 
Athelstan'.  Danes,  Northumbrians,  Scots,  Irish,  and  Welsh; 
reign-  and  he  enlarged  and  strengthened  his  kingdom.    He 

caused  the  Scriptures  to  be  translated  into  the  Saxon  language, 
and  enacted  a  law  which  conferred  the  rank  of  thane,  or  gen- 
tleman, on  every  merchant  who  made  three  voyages  to  the 
Mediterranean. 


successful 
reign. 


Duastaa. 


14.  Edmund,  brother  of  Athelstan  (941),  made  some  con- 
quests, and  his  reign  promised  to  be  a  successful  one ;  but  he 
was  suddenly  assassinated  in  his  own  banqueting-  Edmund  as- 
hall  by  the  notorious  robber  Leolf,  previously  ban-  sassinated. 
ished  by  him,  and  whom,  on  this  occasion,  he  had  ordered  out 
of  his  presence.     He  was  succeeded  by  his  brother  Edred. 

15.  Edred  (94S)  was  not  a  man  of  great  talents ;  but  he 
succeeded  in  reducing  the  rebellious  Danes  in  Edred's 
Northumbria  to  a  state  of  subjection,  and  garri-  ^^^  useful, 
soned  some  of  the  important  towns  to  secure  the  future  peace 
of  his  kingdom.  His  principal  counsellor  was  Dunstan,  abbot 
of  Glastonbury,  a  man  of  noble  birth,  great  talents, 
varied  accomplishments,  and  extraordinary  energy, 
and  who  gained  a  wonderful  ascendency  over  the  sovereign  and 
the  people. 

16.  Edwy,  or  Edwin,  son  of  Edmund,  succeeded  Ed- 
J*^^  (955)  2it  the  early  age  of  sixteen.  His  reign  was  an 
unhappy  one.  Dunstan  was  making  strenuous  Edwy's  con- 
efforts  to  reform  the  secular  (married)  clergy,  in  test  with 
which  measures  he  was  opposed  by  the  king,  Ed-  ^"^^tan.&c. 
wy  also  married  his  cousin  Elgiva,  in  opposition  to  the  counsels 
of  Dunstan,  and  Odo,  archbishop  of  Canterbury ;  and  it  is  said, 
that,  on  the  occasion  of  a  festival  following  his  coronation,  he 
suddenly  left  the  festivities  to  enjoy  the  society  of  his  queen 
and  her  mother.  This  was  offensive  to  the  Saxon  nobles ;  and 
Dunstan  and  a  companion  followed  the  king  to  his  apartment, 
and  forced  him  back  to  the  banqueting-hall.  The  king  was 
indignant  at  this  act,  and  thenceforth  became  the  bitter  enemy 
of  Dunstan. 

17.  With  the  consent  of  Edwy,  and  by  the  advice  of  the 
queen,  the  property  belonging  to  the  community  of  Glastonbury 
was  seized.     Dunstan  was  expelled  from  his  monas-   onnstan 
tery,  and  soon  after  obliged  to  leave  the  kingdom,  banished, 
The  Mercians  revolted  against  Edwy,  and  declared  **"*  returns. 
in  favor  of  his  younger  brother  Edgar;   and  Dunstan,  with 


HISTORY  OF  ENGLAND. 


[959- 


I   : 


whom  they  sympathized,  was  recaUed.  Odo  declared  Edwy's 
Eigiv.  marriage  unlawful;   and  Elgiva  was  arrested  and 

murdered.  gent  into  Ireland,  from  whence  she  soon  after  es- 
caped, and  attempted  to  join  Edwy,  when  she  was  seized,  and 
cruelly  put  to  death.  A  series  of  afflictions  followed  Edwy, 
who  died  soon  after  (in  958),  after  a  reign  of  less  than  four 
years,  and  was  succeeded  by  his  brother  Edgar. 

18.  Edgar's  reign  (959)  was  one  of  peace.  He  en- 
couraged trade,  and  kept  a  powerful  fleet,  by  means  of  which 
A  beneficial  he  was  able  to  hold  the  Danes  in  check,  and  to 
reign.  protect  the  commerce  of  his  people.     He  imposed 

a  tax  upon  the  Welsh  nobles,  payable  in  wolves'  heads,  —  a 
circumstance  which  probably  gave  rise  to  the  story  that  he  freed 
his  kingdom  from  wolves.  But  wolves  did  not  disappear  from 
England  until  some  time  after  the  reign  of  this  king. 
I  19.  Edgar  promoted  Dunstan  to  the  archbishopric  of  Can- 
terbury, and  made  him  his  chief  counsellor;  and  having  heard 
Edgar'smar-  of  the  extraordinary  beauty  of  Elfrida,  daughter  of 
riaee-  the   Eari   of  Devonshire,  he   sent  Athelwold,   his 

favorite,  to  ascertain  the  truth  of  it.  Athelwold,  overcome  by 
the  charms  of  Elfrida,  on  his  return  assured  the  king  that  the 
account  of  her  beauty  had  been  greatly  exaggerated ;  and  he 
obtained  the  king's  permission  to  marry  her  himself.  But  the 
king,  having  afterwards  discovered  the  treachery  of  his  favorite, 
put  him  to  death,  and  married  Elfrida.  Edgar's  private  charac- 
ter and  conduct  were  not  good. 

20.  Edgar  was  succeeded  by  Edward  (975)>  ^^s  son  by  his 
Edward  the  first  marriage,  who  was^  assassinated  in  the  fourth 
Martyr.  year  ofJiis  rcigii^flnd^ nineteenth  of  his  age,  at  the 
instigation  of  his  ^^^\^^mmi'^^\  and  from  this  circum- 
stance he  was  sumamed  the  Martyr. 

21.  Ethelred  II.,  the  son  of  Edgar  and  Elfrida,  succeeded 
Etheired's  (978)  to  the  throne  at  the  age  of  eleven  years.  He 
weakness.  ^^s  a  weak  monarch,  sumamed  the  Unready. 
He  married  Emma  of  Normandy,  sister  of  Duke  Richard  II. 


1002.]  SAXON  KINGS. — DANISH  INCURSIONS.  2  7 

The  Danes  committed  many  depredations  upon  the  kingdom 
and  Etheired's  cowardly  policy  was   to  bribe  the  invaders  to' 
retire.    To  raise  money  for  this  purpose  he  imposed  upon  the 
land  a  tax  called  "  danegeld,"  or  Dane  money ;  pay- 
ing to  his  enemies  at  one  time  sixteen  thousand  ^"*»***'- 
pounds,  and  at  another  twenty-four  thousand  pounds.    When 
these  invasions  became  frequent,  and  the  tax  burdensome,  such 
of  the   Danes  as   the   recent  invaders  had  left  behind'  were 
massacred  by  order  of  the  king,  at  the  Festival  of  St.  Brice 
(1002),  without  distinction  of  age  or  sex.    Among  the  slain 
was  a  sister  of  Sweyn,  king  of  Denmark,  with  her  husband  and 
children. 

22.  When  the  news  of  this  barbarous  transaction  reached 
Denmark,  it  fired  every  bosom  with  a  desire  of  vengeance;  and 
a  large  army  of  Danes,  under  their  king,  Sweyn 
(who  was  the  grandson  of  Beatrix,  the  daughter  of  ^'^''^°' 
Edward  the  Elder),  invaded  and  ravage'd  the  country.    Ethel- 
red  fled  to  Normandy,  and  Sweyn  was  acknowledged  (1013) 
sole  king  of  England;  but  he  died  before  his  coronation,  and 
Ethelred  was  again  restored.     The  latter,  dying  not  long  after- 
wards, was  succeeded  (1016)  by  his  son  fidmund,  sumamed 
Ironside  from  his  strength  and  valor;   but  his  abilities  and 
courage  were  insufficient  to  save  his  sinking  country. 

23.  The  Danes,  who  had  now  obtained  control  of  the  crDwn 
m  England,  were  kindred  of  the  Saxons,"  belonging 
to  the  same  great  Teutonic  family,  and  having  a  ^^'^  ^'  "' 
similar  language  and  religion. 

Among  the  itw  words  of  probable  Danish  origin  found  in  the 
modem  English  are  names  of  persons  ending  in  son,  as  John- 
sori.  Nelson ;  and  names  of  places  in  l>y  (a  town  or  village) 
and  mwtch  (a  station),  as  Whitby,  Derby,  and  Norwich,  or 
North  Station.  ' 


I04I.]    DANISH  KINGS— SAXON  KINGS  RESTORED.      29 


CHAPTER  V. 

w 

PANISH   KINGS.  ^  SAXON   KINGS   RESTORED. 

1017  to  1066,  — 49  years. 


Canute  the  Great. 
Harold  I. 


Canute  II. 

Edward  the  Confcsf or. 

Harold  II. 


ON  the  death  of  Sweyn,  his  son  Canute,  or  Knut.jm 
proclaimed    (lofr)    king   of  EngUnd   by  the  Danes^ 
Having    expelled    a    younger   brother  who    had 
T^     usurped  the  throne  of  Denmark,  Canute  asserted 
««■  his  claim  to  the  crown  of  England,  invaded  the 

country  with  a  numerous  army,  and  compelled  *«  k.ng  to 
divide  his  dominions  with  him.  Edmund  was  soon  after 
^rired  by  the  treachery  of  Edric,  his  brother-m-law ;  and 
Canute  became  sole  monarch.  He  was  the  most  powerf^ 
«,vereign  of  his  time  in  Europe,  and  was  styled  ^e  Great  from 
his  talents  and  successes.  In  the  former  part  of  h.s  re.gn  he 
wlstrere,  but  in  the  latter  part  mild  and  beneficent;  and  he 
died  lamented.  •»       ,j      k    - 

,.  Canute  was  succeeded  (.036)  ^^f^^^^^^^^^l^^Z- 
principal  amusement  was  the  chase,  and  who  obtamed  Ae    ur 
H«..d  name  of  Harefoot  flrom  his  swiftness  m  running, 

^uun.      On  his  death  (.039)  the  throne  was  filled  by  h« 
brother  Canute  IL,  or  Hardicanute,  the  to  of  the  Damsh 

kings.    The  reigns  of  these  two  '«°fjt^*7^^hllSue 
MiLd  by  few  important  events ;  and  both  died  without  issue. 

3.  The  English  now  shook  oCf  the  Danish  yoke,  and  restored 

28 


(1041)  the  Saxon  line  in  Edward  the  "  Confessor,"  brother 
of  Edmund  Ironside,  though  the  rightful  heir  of  Edward's 
this  line  was  Edward,  surnanied  the  "  Oudaw,"  the  history, 
son  of  Ironside,  who  was  now  an  exile  in  Hungary.  Edward's 
mother  (the  queen  of  Ethelred  II.)  was  Emma  of  Normandy, 
a  province  in  the  north-western  part  of  France,  which  was  over- 
run and  occupied  early  in  the  tenth  century  by  the  Northmen, 
—  tribes  of  Scandinavian  origin.  These  people  were  afterwards 
called  Normans.  During  the  reign  of  the  Danish  kings  in 
England,  Edward  had  passed  some  time  in  exile  in  Normandy 
and  Flanders.  He  was  educated  in  a  monastery  in  Normandy, 
and  was  noted  for  his  piety  and  benevolence,  but  was  not  a  man 
of  great  abilities  nor  of  much  ambition. 

Emma  had  married  for  her  second  husband  King  Canute ; 
and  upon  the  death  of  that  monarch,  Edward  crossed  the 
channel  with  a  fleet  to  lay  claim  to  the  throne  of  England. 
But  he  was  opposed  by  his  mother,  who  was  now  regent  of 
Wessex,  and  was  obliged  to  return.  A  few  years  afterwards, 
during  the  reign  of  Harold  I.,  Edward  and  his  brother  Alfred 
were  invited  to  England,  when  Alfred  was  treacherously  slain ; 
but  Edward  effected  his  escape,  and  fled  to  Flanders. 

4.  Upon  the  death  of  Hardicanute,  the  English  people,  tired 
of  Danish  rule,  sought  for  a  king  of  their  own  race   Edward 
and  blood.     Edward,  who  had  been  kindly  treated  made  king. 
by  Hardicanute,  was  now  brought  forward  as  a  claimant  for  the 
throne,  as  being  the  nearest  of  the  royal  line  then  in  the  countty. 

But  Edward's  fondness  for  the  Normans  made  him  unpopular 
with  some  of  his  people ;  and  a  leader  among  this  class  was 
Godwin,  Earl  of  Wessex,  one  of  the  most  powerful  Eari  Ood- 
and  influential  noblemen  of  the  land,  and  a  thorough  win. 
hater  of  the  Normans.  He  was  of  sturdy  Saxon  blood,  and 
with  his  six  sons  acted  an  important  part  in  the  history  of  his 
time.  But  Godwin  became  reconciled,  and  is  said  to  have 
consented  to  Edward's  accession  to  the  throne,  on  condition 
that  his  own  daughter  Edith  should  become  the  wife  and  queen 


30 


HISTORY  OF  ENGLAND. 


[1041. 


of  the  new  monarch.  Edward  is  said  to  have  treated  his  wife 
with  indifference  and  coldness ;  and  he  also  deprived  his  mother 
of  her  large  possessions,  and  confined  her  in  a  monastery,  on 
account  of  her  former  opposition  to  his  plans  for  securing  the 
throne. 

5  For  a  time  Edward's  reign  was  comparatively  peaceful, 
and'the  country  was  prosperous.  The  bitter  feeling  which  had 
Edward'.  long  cxistcd  between  the  Saxons  and  the  Danes, 
rei^.  and  which  had  been  the  source  of  almost  incessant 

strife,  gradually  gave  way  to  more  friendly  relations,  and  the- 
two  races  became  more  assimilated  as  one  people. 

But  Edward  was  a  Norman  in  feelings,  as  well  as  by  educa- 
tion ;  and  his  partiality  for  that  people  led  him  to  fill  the  princi- 
pal offices  of  his  court  and  of  the  church  with  Normans,  and 
Norman-French  was  spoken  at  court,  and  was  used  in  legal 
documents.    This  gave  great  offence  to  the  people,  and  often 
led  to  serious  difficulties.    On  one  occasion  Count  Eustace  of 
Boulogne,  a  brother-in-law  of  the  king,  paid  him  a  friendly 
visit,  and  while  on  his  return  to  France,  he  had  a  personal 
difficulty  with  some  of  the  citizens  of  Dover,  in  which  several 
^  .   .   ,        persons  were  slain.     Edward  called  upon  Godwin 
di-grace.        to  punish  the  people  of  Dover  for  their  msults  to 
his  relative  ;  but  the  stanch  old  Saxon  refused,  upon  finding  that 
the  count  was  the  aggressor,  and  he  insisted  that  the  affair  should 
take  due  course  of  law.    This  led  to  a  complication  of  difficul- 
ties, which  finally  resulted  in  driving  Godwin  and  his  family  into 
exile.    Not  long  afterwards,  he  and  his  son  Harold  returned 
with  a  fleet  and  followers,  and  secured  their  restoration  to  their 
former  possessions  and  power ;  and  Edward's  Norman  adher- 
ents, whom  he  had  appointed  to  numerous  offices,  were  com- 
pelled to  leave  the  country. 

6.  Godwin  did  not  long  survive  his  return  to  power;  and 

his  earldom  and  other  possessions  fell  to  his  son 

Harold.  Harold,  who  now  becamei^the  leading  nobleman  of 

England.    He  was  brave,  a  person  of  many  noble  qualities,  and 


1041.]    DANISH  KINGS. — SAXON  KINGS  RESTORED,     31 

a  great  favorite  ;  and  as  a  leader  in  Edward's  armies  he  did  good 
service  in  the  subjugation  of  Wales.  Harold  was  very  ambitious, 
and  the -object  of  his  ambition  was  the  throne  of  England  ;  and 
for  a  long  time  he  secretly  used  all  his  power  to  accomplish  his 
purpose. 

7.  But  there  was  another  aspirant  for  the  throne  in  the  per- 
son of  William,  Duke  of  Normandy.  William  was  a  second 
cousin  of  King  Edward,  and  had  visited  his  roj-al  d^j^^  ^^ 
cousin  in  England  during  Godwin's  banishment,  Normandy, 
when  he  was  treated  with  great  kindness  and  consideration. 
During  the  visit,  as  William  afterwards  claimed,  the  king  signi- 
fied his  intention  to  make  him  his  successor  upon  the  throne. 

8.  Harold,  having  occasion  to  visit  Normandy,  was  ship- 
wrecked upon  the  coast,  and  taken  prisoner,  and  confined. 
But  Duke  William  came  to  his  relief,  ransomed  Harold  and 
him,  and  took  him  to  his  court  at  Rouen,  where  the  duke, 
he  treated  him  with  great  kindness  and  hospitality.  William 
finally  disclosed  to  Harold  his  plans  for  securing  the  sovereignty 
of  England,  and  extorted  from  him  an  oath  to  assist  him  in  the 
undertaking ;  but,  after  his  return  to  England,  Harold  openly 
exerted  himself  with  energy  to  secure  his  own  accession  to  the 
throne.  Edward  was  old  and  infirm  ;  and  Harold  represented 
that  Edgar  Atheling,  the  sole  heir,  was  a  youth  of  most  violent 
temper  and  of  weak  mind,  unfit  to  rule  England,  and  that  there- 
fore the  royal  family  should  be  set  aside.  Great  exertions  were 
made  to  increase  his  own  popularity,  and  to  set  forth  his  abili- 
ties, bravery,  and  experience  in  the  most  favorable  light.  Ere 
long  success  crowned  his  efforts. 

9.  Edward  died  soon  aft:er  completing  and  consecrating 
Westminster  Abbey  on  the  site  where  Sebert,  King  of  Essex, 
had  built  a  church  to  St.  Peter  more  than  four  cen-   „,     _,. 

Edward  s 

tunes  before.     He  was  buried  in  the  abbey,  and  death  and 
some  time  afterwards  was  canonized  by  the  Pope,  ci^^'^tcr. 
and  received  the  surname  of  the  Confessor.     It  was  during  this 
reign  that  occurred  those  events  in  Scottish  history  that  form 
the  basis  of  Shakspeare's  tragedy  of  "  Macbeth." 


f 


31 


///STORY    OF   ENGLAND, 


[to4r. 


Tlie  new 
kins. 


Edward  is  represented  as  a  man  of  fine  personal  appearance, 
with  hair  and  beard  of  snowy  whiteness.  He  was  a  man  of 
good  intentions,  but  was  weak  in  character  and  purpose.  He 
was  thought  to  be  favored  with  the  special  privilege  of  curing 
the  scrofula,  or  kingVevil.-  This  power  was  long  supposed  to 
have  descended  to  his  successors  ;  and  the  superstitious  practice 
of  touching  for  that  disorder  was  continued  by  the  sovereigns 
of  England  from  this  period  till  the  revolution  of  1688. 

10.  Harold  claimed  that  the  dying  king,  in  language  indis- 
tinctly uttered,  named  him  as  his  successor ;  and  he  was  elected 
by  the  Witan,  crowned,  and   proclaimed  JkiPg  as 
Harold  II.,  on  the  very  day  of  Edward^stmieral, 
But  his  reign  was  short  and  full  of  trouble.    His  brother  Tostii^. 
Earl  of  Northumberland,  had  been  banished  by  the  inhabitants 
for  his  tyranny  and  oppression  ;  and,  not  succeeding  in  securing 
his  own  restoration,  he  became  a  bitter  enemy  of  Harold,  and 
sought  revenge  by  collecting  a  fleet  in  Flanders,  and  invadinir 
Norwegian      England.    After  being  rcpulsed  from  the  southern 
inira»ion.        coast,  he  was  joined  by  Hardrada,  a  giant  king  of 
Norway,  with  a  much  larger  fleet ;  and  they  entered  the  mouth 
of  the  Huniber,  disembarked  their  hordes  of  freebooters,  and 
commenced  their  depredations  wi^on  the  country  and  people. 
York  was  surrendered  to  them;  but  Harold  soon  hastened  with 
an  army  to  the  scene  of  conflict,  and  was  disposed  to  make 
peace  with  his  brother ;   but,  when  Tostig  asked  what  favors 
would  be  granted  to  Hardrada,  Harold  replied,  "  Seven  feet  of 
English  earth  for  a  grave."    This  broke  ofl"  negotiations ;  anrl 
a  great  battle  was  fought  at  Stamtord  bridge,  near  York,  in  which 
'Tostig,  Hardrada,  and  many  of  their  followers,  were  slain,  and 
the  surviving  invaders  wer6  compelled  to  retire.     So  great  was 
the  carnage  at  this  time,  that  ^he  bones  of  the  slain  were  said 
to  have  whitened  the  battle-field  for  half  a  century  afterwards. 

II.  Meanwhile  in  the  province  of  Normandy,  active  prepara- 
tions were  taking  place  for  an  expedition  fraught  with  momen- 
tous consequences   to  the   English  government  and  people. 


1066]    DANISH  A'INGS,-'SAXON  KINGS  RESTORED,     ^^ 

When  William  heard  of  Harold's  election  and  coronation,  he 
was  highly  indignant,  and  immediately  despatched  Harold  op- 
an  embassy  to  him,  reminding  him  of  his  former  posed, 
oath,  and  demanding  the  surrender  of  his  kingdom.  Harold 
replied,  that  his  oath  had  been  given  through  fear  of  violence, 
that  he  had  been  made  king  by  the  suffrages  of  the  nation, 
and  that  he  had  neither  inchnation  nor  right  to  surrender  his 
charge. 

William  determined  at  once  to  enforce  his  claims.  He  was 
a  person  of  great  popularity,  and  pre-eminent  for  his  courage 
and  noble  bearing ;  and  when  he  publicly  announced  wuiiam's 
his.  intended  expedition,  great  enthusiasm  was  mani-  preparation, 
fested  in  neighboring  states,  and  many  princes  and  valiant  lead- 
ers, with  numerous  followers,  hastened  to  enroll  themselves  under 
his  leadership.  His  own  subjects  were  at  first  indifferent,  and 
reluctant  to  sanction  or  assist  an  enterprise  whose  field  of 
operations  was  out  of  their  own  country.  But  William  finally 
succeeded  by  his  personal  address  in  enlisting  their  co-operation 
and  assistance.  The  Pope  also  gave  his  gracious  approval,  and 
sent  to  the  duke  a  consecrated  banner. 

12.  In  the  eariy  autumn  of  1066,  the  Normans  crossed  the 
English  Channel  with  nearly  a  thousand  vessels  and 

r      .  ,  ,  The  Nor- 

an  army  of  sixty  thousand  men,  and   landed   in  mansinEng- 
Sussex,  and  pitched  their  camp  on  a  range  of  hills  **°'^* 
at  Senlac,  near  Hastings. 

Harold  was  at  a  banquet  in  York,  soon  after  his  successful 
repulse  of  the  Norwegian  invasion,  when  he  heard  that  the 
Normans  were  encamped  on  English  soil.  He  immediately  set 
out  for  London,  with  all  the  forces  he  could  collect,  without 
delay,  and  hastened  to  confront  the  invaders,  and  intrenched  his 
army  on  the  hills  opposite  the  Norman  camp.  The  night  before 
the  battle  is  said  to  have  been  spent  by  the  English  in  revelry 
and  riot,  and  by  the  Normans,  in  prayer  and  consecration. 

13.  Early  on  the  morning  of  Oct.  14,  the  conflict  began,  and 
raged  for  nearly  the  entire  day.    Solid  coli^mn  met  solid  column, 


34 


mSTOkY  OF  ENGLAND. 


[1366. 


^ 


Result. 


and  the  slaughter  was  terrible.  Several  times  during  the  day, 
Battle  of  victory  seemed  about  to  perch  on  the  English  ban- 
Hastinfs.  ners ;  but  thrice  William  adroitly  feigned  retreat,  and 
drew  his  foes  down  into  the  plain,  where  he  suddenly  wheeled 
upon  them,  and  inflicted  most  signal  defeat.  Harold  received 
an  arrow  in  his  eye,  and  was  soon  after  despatched  by  the  lances 
of  French  knights,  of  whom  Count  Eustace  was  one.  Two 
of  Harold's  brothers  also  perished  in  the  midst  of  the  conflict. 

The  battle  of  Hastings  was  decisive.  Although  the  English 
at  London  soon  chose  as  their  king  Edgar  Atheling,  the  young 
grandson  of  Edmund  Ironside,  he  was  never 
crowned ;  and  the  Norman  duke  hastened  to  im- 
prove the  advantage  his  recent  victory  had  given  him.  The 
submission  of  Dover,  Canterbury,  and  Winchester,  soon  fol- 
lowed; and  London,  after  some  resistance,  surrendered  to 
William,  who  was  chosen  king,  and  whose  descendants  have 
to  this  day  occupied  the  throne  of  England. 

14.  This  event,  commonly  called  the  Conquest,  is  one  of  the 
Importance  niost  important  landmarks  in  Enghsh  history.  It 
of  the  event,  introduced  the  Norman  element  into  the  kingdom 
and  upon  the  throne,  and  had  an  important  bearing  upon  the 
future  of  the  country,  and  its  relations  to  other  lands. 

I5«  More  than  eleven  hundred  years  had  now  elapsed  since 
the  island  of  Britain  appeared  in  history.  The  Celts,  the  Roman 
Growth  of  occupation,  and  the  Saxon  and  Danish  invasions 
the  nation,  and  settlements,  had  all  contributed  to  the  growth 
of  the  English  nation  and  to  its  civilization.  These  different 
elements  had  become  so  blended,  that  the  people  were  more 
like  one  nation  than  they  had  ever  before  been. 

16.  The  state  of  society  at  this  time  was  not  refined.    Some 
progress  was  made  under  the  Saxons,  but  much 
was  also  lost  by  the  devastations  and  barbarous 
practices  of  the  Danes. 

But  there  was  a  wide  difference  between  the  condition  of  the 
nobles  and  of  the  lower  classes.    The  nobles  held  large  tracts 


Society. 


1066.]    DANISH  KINGS. -^SAXON  KINGS  RESTORED.     35 


Slavery,  &c.  . 


of  land  under  the  king,  for  whom  they  were  obliged  to  fight 
and  to  render  assistance  when  called  upon ;  while  the  people 
occupied  and  tilled  the  soil,  with  similar  obligations  to  the 
nobles,  by  whom  they  were  often  greatly  oppressed. 

17.  Manual  labor,  except  in  the  arts,  was  performed  chiefly 
by  slaves,  some  of  whom  enjoyed  a  degree  of  freedom,  while 
others  were  bought  and  sold  with  the  land  upon 
which  they  were  born,  but  could  not  be  separated 
from  it.  Many  of  the  freemen  were  compelled  to  work  a  certain 
number  of  days  each  year  for  the  lord,  or  owner  of  the  land, 
receiving  in  pay  the  rent  of  land  for  their  own  cultivation. 
There  was  a  feeling  of  dependence  by  all  orders  of  people  upon 
those  above  them  in  rank,  and  also  a  kind  of  obligation,  on  the 
part  of  the  higher  classes,  to  provide  in  a  measure  for  their 
dependents.  This  feature  in  the  relation  of  the  different  classes 
seems  to  have  been  brought  by  the  Anglo-Saxons  from  their 
early  home  on  the  Continent. 

18.  The  dwellings  of  the  people  were  built  in  clusters,  or 
villages,  around  which  were  common  fields  for  pasturage,  in 
care  of  the  village  herdsmen  and  the  pound-keeper. 
All  could  cut  wood  from  the  forests,  and  dig  turf 
from  the  bogs,  for  fuel ;  and  deer  and  wild  fowl  could  be  hunted 
free,  for  there  were  no  game-laws  until  the  time  of  Canute. 

The  dwelling  of  the  nobleman,  or  lord  of  the  village,  usually 
consisted  of  one  large  room,  which  served  as  a  family  apart- 
ment, a  banqueting-hall,  and  sleeping-room ;  bunks  or  berths 
being  arranged  around  the  walls  for  beds,  before  which  curtains 
were  sometimes  suspended.  But  the  females  had  separate 
sleeping-apartments,  called  bowers,  built  outside.  The  attend- 
ants slept  upon  benches  or  upon  the  floor.  Chairs  elaborately 
carved  were  kept  for  distinguished  guests,  only  benches  and 
stools  being  in  more  common  use.  The  fire  was  built  in  the 
middle  of  the  room,  the  smoke  escaping  through  an  opening 
in  the  roof;  and  the  floor,  often  of  earth,  was  strewn  with 
rushes  or  straw,  to  which  flowers  were  added  on  soecial  occa- 

0.  A. 


E>welling8. 


36 


II/STORY  OF  ENGLAND. 


[1066. 


Dress. 


sions.  The  windows  were  furnished  with  lattice  or  cloth,  instead 
of  glass,  which  had  not  yet  come  into  common  use ;  and  the 
walls  were  sometimes  hung  with  tapestry  and  curtains  of  silk 
richly  embroidered.  But  the  dwellings  of  the  lower  orders  were 
rude  huts  or  hovels,  covered  with  turf,  and  containing  no  furni- 
ture but  a  few  rude  benches  for  seats,  and  beds  of  straw  and 
rushes.  Cups,  spoons,  and  dishes  were  rudely  formed  of  horn, 
.bone,  and  wood.  Candles  of  tallow  were  used  for  lighting  these 
huts,  wliile  those  of  wax  were  used  by  the  higher  classes. 

19.  In  the  eighth  century  the  dress  of  the  males  consisted 
of  a  linen  under-garment,  over  which  was  a  tunic  of  linen  or 
woollen,  open  at  the  neck,  and  extending  to  the 
knees,  with  long  sleeves  reaching  to  the  wrist.  The 
borders  and  collar  of  those  of  the  higher  classes  were  orna- 
mented, and  the  garment  was  confined  around  the  waist  by  a 
belt.  Over  this  was  worn  a  short  cloak,  fastened  at  the  shoulder 
or  breast  with  a  kind  of  brooch.  Linen  or  woollen  drawers  and 
stockings  were  worn,  and  shoes  of  leather  formed  coverings  for 
the  feet.  The  lower  garments  and  the  tunic  of  the  poorer 
classes  were  often  made  of  leather  and  untanned  hide.  The 
upper  lip  was  shaven,  but  otherwise  the  hair  and  beard  were 
worn  long.  The  garments  of  the  women  were  similar  to  those 
of  the  men,  except  that  a  long  dress  with  full  sleeves  took  the 
place  of  the  short  tunic,  and  the  outer  garment  was  a  kind  of 
mantle  instead  of  a  cloak.  The  hair  was  curled  with  hot  irons, 
and  dressed  with  much  care  ;  and  the  head-dress  consisted  of 
a  veil,  or  strip  of  linen  or  silk  cloth,  wound  round  the  neck 
and  head.  They  also  wore  necklaces,  ribbons,  ear-rings,  and 
brooches. 

^o.  The  Anglo-Saxons  and  Danes  were  great  eaters,  and 
those  who  were  able  had  four  meals  a  day.  Food  was  abun- 
dant. For  meat  they  raised  cattle,  sheep,  swine, 
fowls,  and  goats,  and  hunted  deer  and  hares ;  and 
meats  were  salted  for  preservation.  They  had  fisTi,  such  as 
salmon  and  herring,  also  oysters,  lobsters,  and  eelsj  and  in 


Food. 


1066.]    DANISH  KINGS.—SAXON  KINGS  RESTORED.     37 


Meals. 


cooking  they  boiled,  baked,  and  broiled  their  food.  Bread, 
sometimes  eaten  hot,  was  made  from  wheat  and  barley ;  and 
beans,  eggs,  cheese,  and  honey,  were  in  common  use ;  and 
mention  is  made  of  grapes,  apples,  pears,  nuts,  and  figs. 

At  meals,  knives  were  used  for  carving,  but  not  for  eating : 
and  fingers  supplied  the  place  of  forks,  water  being  passed 
round  after  eating,  with  which  to  wash  the  hands. 
The  tables  were  spread  with  cloths  so  large  that 
they  covered  the  knees  of  the  guests,  and  could  be  used  as 
napkins.  The  people  were  all  fond  of  exhilarating  drinks,  such 
as  ale,  mead,  and  wine,  which  were  served  in  silver  cups,  and 
in  horns  ornamented  with  rims  and  knobs  of  silver.  On  festive 
occasions,  both  eating  and  drinking  were  carried  to  excess,  and 
were  accompanied  by  songs,  dancing,  and  the  harp.  Public 
ale-houses  were,  much  frequented,  and  were  the  scenes  of  bois- 
terous conviviality  and  rioting;  but  priests  were  prohibited  by 
law  from  eating  or  drinking  at  such  houses. 

21.  The  principal  amusements  were  hunting,  hawking,  jug- 
glery, songs  and  instrumental  music,  chess,  dice,  and  other 
similar  games.  Backgammon,  which  signifies  "  little  Amuse- 
batde,"  originated  with  the  Welsh.  The  musical  ments. 
instruments  in  use  were  the  harp,  lyre,  viol,  horn,  trumpet,  drum, 
cymbal,  and  flute.  The  harp  was  probably  introduced  from 
Ireland,  where  music  in  early  times  was  much  cultivated,  and 
where  church  music  was  especially  noted  for  its  excellence. 

22.  The  domestic  life  of  the  early  English  was  very  far  above 
that  of  savage  nations.  The  sexes  were  not  separated  at  meals, 
nor  on  festive  occasions.     In  household  affairs  and   Domestic 

in  society,  woman  was  well  treated,  and  exerted  a  life, 
good  degree  of  influence.  Personal  cleanliness  was  regarded 
as  a  prime  virtue ;  the  bath  was  in  frequent  use ;  and  children 
were  well  cared  for  at  home.  In  case  of  poverty,  a  father  could 
consign  his  son,  after  childhood,  to  slavery  for  a  period  of  seven 
years,  provided  the  boy  consented  to  the  contract. 

The  marriage-ceremony  was  performed  by  the  priest,  and 


(___,V 


3« 


///Sro/^V  OF  ENGLAND. 


[1066. 


Agriculture. 


was  an  occasion  of  joy  and  festivity.  Before  the  age  of  fifteen, 
a  girl  could  be  given  in  marriage  by  her  father  at  will ;  but  after 
that  age  she  was  allowed  to  select  her  own  husband.  Before 
marriage,  the  bridegroom  gave  a  pledge  to  support  his  wife  and 
her  children  in  a  style  becoming  her  position  in  society. 

The  women  of  the  higher  classes  were  skilful  in  the  use  of 
the  needle,  and  spent  much  of  their  time  in  embroidering  with 
golden  and  colored  thread.  In  Bayeux,  France,  there  is  still 
preserved  an  historical  tapestry,  a  pictorial  representation  of  the 
Conquest,  wrought  with  worsteds  of  various  colors  on  a  roll  of 
linen  two  hundred  and  fourteen  feet  long  and  twenty  inches 
wide.  This  is  believed  to  have  been  made  by  English  women, 
though  some  have  attributed  it  to  Matilda,  the  wife  of  the 
Conqueror. 

23.  During  the  latter  part  of  the  Saxon  period,  agriculture 
received   much  attention.     Farm^  were  divided  into  pasture, 

meadow,  and  wood  land ;  but  fences  were  not  used, 
division-lines  being  formed  by  hedges,  ditches,  and 
brooks.  The  farmers  used  ploughs,  rakes,  sickles,  scythes,  forks, 
flails,  wagons,  and  carts ;  also  mills  for  grinding  grain.  Bees 
were  kept  quite  extensively,  furnishing  honey  in  great  abundance, 
which  was  an  important  article  of  food,  sugar  being  then  little 
known.  The  raising  of  cattle  was  the  leading  industry ;  and 
much  attention  was  also  given  to  sheep  ;  the  warm;  moist  climate 
of  the  island  being  favorable  for  good  pasturage.  As  the  fields 
were  not  enclosed,  many  people  were  occupied  in  tending  cattle, 
sheep,  swine,  and  goats.  Vegetable  and  flower  gardens  were 
cultivated  to  some  extent.  Forests  were  protected  by  law  from 
destruction ;  and  the  value  of  trees,  especially  the  oak,  walnut, 
and  the  beech,  was  determined  according  to  the  number  of 
swine  that  could  feed  under  them. 

24.  The  Anglo-Saxons  acquired  considerable  skill  in  manu- 

facturing  and  in  the  various  useful  arts,  and  had 

quite  a  reputation  as  workers  in  iron  and  other 

metals,  including  the  manufacture  of  jewelry.     Such  occupa- 


1066.]    DANISH  KINGS.  —  SAXON  KINGS  RES  TOR  ED.     39 

tions  as  masons,  carpenters,  blacksmiths,  wagon-makers,  armor- 
ers, weavers,  tailors,  and  tanners  and  shoemakers,  and  others, 
were  represented  in  the  principal  communities.  But  some  of 
these  were  itinerant  in  the  pursuit  of  their  calling ;  the  black- 
smith with  his  portable  forge  and  tools,  and  the  shoemaker  and 
the  tailor  with  the  implements  of  their  craft,  being  accustomed 
to  go  round  to  the  dwellings  of  the  people,  and  to  perform 
their  work  when  their  services  were  needed.  Glass-making  was 
learned  from  the  French,  and  its  use  was  slowly  introduced. 

25.  Ship-building  and  commerce  were  industries  of  consider- 
able importance.  The  oak  of  the  island  was  noted  for  its 
strength ;  and  English  ship-carpenters  were  skilful    r 

1,     ,,.,.,  '.  '    v-ommerce 

and  held  m  high  esteem.    Foreign  vessels,  especially  and  traffic, 
from  the  East,  came  to  the  country  for  traffic  ;  and  English  ships 
visited  the  ports  of  Western  Europe  and  of  the  Mediterranean, 
carrying  cattle  and  other  aninjals,  wool,  skins,  the  various  agri- 
cultural products,  lead,  iron,  and  manufactured  articles.    The 
trade  in  slaves  was  quite  active ;  young  men  and  women  bought 
for  the  purpose  being  sent  from  the  port  of  Bristol  to  Ireland 
for  sale.    Traffic  was  carried  on  to  a  considerable  extent  in 
barter,  or  the  exchange  of  one  commodity  for  another.     About 
the  close  of  the  tenth  century,  the  barter  price  of  a  slave  was 
twenty  shillings  ;  a  horse,  thirty  shillings ;  an  ox,  six  shillings ; 
a  cow,  five  shillings ;   a  swine,  one  shilling  and   threepence  ; 
a  sheep,  one  shilling ;  and  a  goat,  twopence.     Land,  also,  was 
cheap,  selling  sometimes  for  four  shillings  an  acre.     But  the 
value  of  money  was  much  greater  then  than  at  the  present 
time. 


26.  The  Witan,  established  by  the  early  Saxons,  continued 
to  be  the  great  Council  or  Parliament  of  the  nation 
for  making  laws,  and  for  the  administration  of  jus-   °*»^"°™«°*- 
tice  in  its  higher  forms.     Its  principal  meetings  were  at  Christ- 
mas, Easter,  and  Whitsuntide. 

In  courts  of  justice,  a  person  accused  of  crime  was  acquitted 
if  he  could  bring  a  number  of  friends,  owners  of  property,  to 


40 


mSTOHV  OF  ENGLAND. 


[1066. 


Trial*. 


swear  to  his  innocence  :  otherwise  he  submitted  to  the  trial  by 

"ordeal,"  where  he  was  compelled  to  walk  over  hot  plough- 
shares, to  hold  hot  iron  in  his  hands,  or  to  plunge 
his  arm  into  boiling  water.     If  no  harm  from  the 

ordeal  was  found  upon  his  person  at  the  end  of  three  days,  he 

was  considered  innocent. 

27.  Long  before  the  Conquest,  Christianity  was  the  religion 
of  the  nation,  and  every  town  and  settlement  had  its  church 

and  priest.     In  the  tenth  and  eleventh  centuries 

*  '**°°'        considerable  attention  was  given  to  the  architecture 

of  churches,  which  were  generally  built  of  wood ;  though  the 

one  at  York,  built  by  Edwin,  was  of  stone,  with  glass  windows 

introduced  from  France. 

At  times  there  was  much  corruption  in  the  Church,  and  many 
of  its  officers  were  immoral  and  worldly ;  but  there  is  reason  to 
believe,  nevertheless,  that  its  influence  did  much  to  improve 
.the  condition  of  the  people,  to  furnish  an  asylum  for  the  op- 
pressed, and  to  mitigate  the  evils  of  slavery. 

28.  Before  the  time  of  Alfred  there  were  no  schools  except 
the  monasteries,  which  were  institutions  of  learning  as  well  as 

of  religion.  The  Venerable  Bede  did  much  for  the 
cause  of  learning  as  a  teacher  of  monks  and  of 
youth,  and  by  the  preparation  in  Latin  of  text-books  in  nearly 
all  branches  then  taught.  Canute  and  others,  during  the  century 
preceding  the  Conquest,  founded  several  higher  seminaries 
of  learning,  with  which  many  distinguished  scholars  were  con- 
nected. The  principal  branches  taught  in  these  schools  were 
Latin,  Greek,  theology,  astronomy,  grammar,  and  arithme- 
tic. In  these  branches  the  monks  were  well  versed;  also  in 
painting,  music,  sculpture,  and  architecture.  Dunstan  was  largely 
instrumental  in  introducing  the  Benedictine  monks,  who  for  a 
long  time  were  the  principal  teachers  of  youth.  These  monks 
showed  great  skill  with  the  pen  in  copying  and  illuminating  books 
upon  vellum,  or  parchment ;  and  it  is  to  their  labors  that  we  are 
principally  indebted  for  much  of  the  ancient  literature  that  has 


Schools. 


iofi6.]     DANISH  KINGS. — SAXON  KINGS  RESTORED.      41 

been  transmitted  to  modem  times.     But  the  common  people 
were  not  educated;  and  some  of  the  Saxon  kings  could  not 
write  their  names,  but  made  their  mark  instead.     The  brothers 
of  King  Alfred  never  learned  to  read.   'The  Saxons  were  a 
practical  people,  with   strong  common-sense  and  quick  judg- 
ment;  but  learning  was   not  generally  considered  by  them 
necessary,  even  among  the  high  classes,  except  for  those  holding 
offices  in  the  monasteries,  and  in  connection  with  the  Church. 
But  physical  education,  and  excellence  in  manly  sports,  were 
highly  prized,  and  were  attended  to.     To  draw  the  strong  bow, 
and  wield  the  battle-axe,  the  broadsword,  and  the  spear  in  war, 
and  to  engage  in  the  chase,  —  where  men  sometimes  found 
themselves  in  close  personal  combat  with  wild  animals  (which 
were  then  numerous),  —  rendered  great  physical  strength  not 
only  serviceable,  but  necessary  for  success  and  safety. 

The  first  library  mentioned  in  England  is  said  to  have  been 
collected  at  the  minster,  or  cathedral,  in  York. 

29.  London  was  the  most  importaht  town,  with  considerable 
trade.  It  is  mentioned  by  the  Roman  writers  of  the  first  cen- 
/tury,  and  it  is  supposed,  that,  a  century  or  two  later,  important 
the  Romans  surrounded  it  with  walls.  The  East  *owns. 
Saxons  made  it  the  capital  of  their  state  (Essex)  ;  and,  when 
Egbert  united  the  states  of  the  Heptarchy,  he  made  it  the  me- 
tropolis of  his  new  kingdom.  It  was  soon  afterwards  sacked 
and  burned  by  the  Danes,  but  was  rebuilt  by  King  Alfred. 

The  land  along  the  riverside  was  marshy,  and  the  streets 
were  narrow  and  winding.  There  was  no  drainage,  and  the 
streets  abounded  in  pools  and  rivulets  reeking  with 
filth,  that  sometimes  caused  sickness  and  disease  of 
an  epidemic  and  pestilential  character.  The  dwelling-houses 
were  constructed  of  wood,  with  thatched  roofs ;  the  churches 
were  crowned  with  wooden  towers ;  and  beautiful  flower-gardens 
were  cultivated  around  the  monasteries  and  other  religious 
houses.  The  city  was  surrounded  by  several  villages,  which 
are  now  included  within  the  present  metropolis ;  and  beyond 


London. 


42 


HISTORY  OF  ENGLAND. 


[co66. 


these  were  the  country  residences  of  the  wealthy  Saxons,  with 
their  orchards  and  pleasant  fields. 

There  were  other  towns  of  considerable  importance,  and 
some  of  them  were  of  great  antiquity.  Winchester,  a  town  of 
the  early  Britons,  was  for  a  long  time  the  capital  of  Wessex  and 
of  England.  Manchester  was  a  seat  of  the  Druids ;  and  at 
Birmingham,  in  the  kingdom  of  Mercia,  now  the  great  centre 
of  the  iron-industr)%  the  Celts  manufactured  their  arms  before 
the  Romans  visited  Britain. 

Chester,  York,  Exeter,  Sheffield,  Worcester  {IVoosfer),  Cam- 
bridge, Bath  with  its  warm  springs,  and  Brighton  (the  pleasant 
seaside  summer  resort),  were  all  well-known  Roman  stations, 
and  at  the  time  of  the  Conquest  were  places  of  more  or  less 
business  and  importance.  The  sea-roving  Saxons  early  saw  the 
importance  of  the  harbor  of  Harwich  {Harridg),  and  from 
their  day  it  continued  to  be  an  important  seaport. 

30.  London  had  not  yet  become  the  established  capital  of 
the  kingdom,  though  some  of  the  kings  were  crowned  there, 
and  at  times  had  made  it  their  place  of  residence 
Capital..  ^^  ^^  ^j^^  meeting  of  the  .Witan.  The  Saxon 
kings  held  court  wherever  it  pleased  them  ;  their  favorite  place 
being  Winchester,  the  old  capital  of  Wessex.  This  city  con- 
tinued to  be  the  chief  capital  of  the  kingdom  until  after  the 
reign  of  Henry  H.,  and  was  one  of  the  favorite  residences  of 
the  sovereigns  until  the  time  of  George  I.  Edward  the  Con- 
fessor held  his  court  at  one  time  in-  the  village  of  Windleshore, 
on  the  Thames,  now  Windsor,  the  principal  residence  of  the 
British  sovereigns. 


SYNOPSIS   FOR  REVIEW. 

L  — Early  Britain. 

Name,  ancient  and  modem. 

People ;  their  character,  mode  of  life,  and  dwellings.    Their 

government,  wars,  religion,  and  worship. 
Bards,  festivals,  and  Druids. 

Origin  of  Britons.    Civilization,  mining,  and  trade.    Language. 
The  Gaels. 

II.  —  Roman  Occupation. 

Caesar's  first  invasion  and  its  incidents. 

Caesar's  second  invasion.    Caswollon.    Native  kings.    Cym- 

beline. 
Claudius.    Caradoc. 
— ^  Suetonius,  Mona,  and  Boadicea. 

Agricola.    Picts  and  Scots.    Roman  walls. 

man  rule. 

Roads.     Towns  and  their  ruins.     Mode  of   life. 

Mining. 
Christianity.    Romans  leave  Britain. 


Benefits  of  Ro- 


Habits. 


III.  —  Saxon  Conquest. 

Raids  by  Picts  and  Scots.     Saxon  freebooters. 

Hengist  and  Horsa.    Conquests.    King  Arthur.    Saxons  and 

Christianity.     The  Heptarchy. 
Kent  and  Ethel bert.    Sussex.    Wessex.    Essex.    Northumbria. 

East  Anglia.     Mercia.     Egbert. 
The  Saxons ;  their  government.    The  people.    Religion,  mode 
.    of  life,  and  education. 

IV.  —  Saxon  Kings,  &c. 

Egbert.    Danish  raids. 

Alfred's  reign  and  character. 

Edward  the  Elder.     His  contests  with  the  Danes.    The  first 

king  of  all  England. 
Athelstan.     War  with  the  Danes  and  others. 
Edmund.    His  tragical  death. 

43- 


sa«iB!aaai 


II' 


!■■■    ?■ 


-I  ;   t 


44 


I  t    ! 


JUS  TORY  OF  ENGLAND, 

Edred.     Subjugates  the  Danes  and  others.     Strengthens  the 

kingdom.     Dunstan. 
Edwy.     His  marriage.     Contest  with  Dunstan  and  Odo. 
Edgar.     Peaceful  reign.     Protects  commerce  by  a  fleet.    Tax 

upon  Welsh  nobles.     His  marriage. 
Edward  the  Martyr. 
Ethelred  n.    A  weak  king.    Danegeld.    Massacre  of  the 

Danes.     Sweyn.    The  Danes.     Danish  words. 

Danish  Kings. 

Canute  and  his  reign. 

Harold  L 

Canute  IX    Saxon  kings  restored. 

Edward  the   Confessor.     His   history.     Candidate  for  the 

throne- 
Godwin.     Edward's  reign.     Godwin  in  disgrace. 
Harold,  and  Vyilliam  the  Duke  of   Normandy.    Edward's 

death  and  character. 
Harold  IL     King.     Norwegian  invasion.     William  opposes 

Harold.     Invades  England. 
Battle  of  Hastings.     Result.     Its  importance. 
Growth  of  the  nation.     Society.    Slavery. 
Dwellings  and  furniture.     Dress. 
Food,  meals,  amusements,  and  domestic  life.    Bayeux  tapestry. 

Agriculture,  trades,  commerce,  and  traffic. 
Government.     Trials  in  court.     Religion.     Schools.     Bede. 

Benedictine  monks.    Towns.    Capitals. 


PART    1 1. 

THE    FEUDAL    PERIOD. 

FROM    THE   NORMAN   CONQUEST   TO  {HENRY  VII.)  THE 

TUDOR   FAMILY. 

1066  to  1485, — 419  years. 


CHAPTER   I. 

THE   NORMAN   FAMILY. 
1066  to  1154,-88  years. 


William  I.,  the  Conqueror. 
William  II.,  Rufus. 


Henry  I. 
Stephen. 


WILLIAM  I.,  known  as  William  the  Conqueror,  was 
crowned  at  Christmas  (1066)  in  Westminster  Abbey. 
When  the  Saxons  and  the  Normans  were  asked,  wiiiiam-s 
each  by  their  own  bishop,  if  they  would  have  Wil-  coronation, 
liam  for  their  king,  both  peoples  signified  their  assent  with  loud 
applause.  This  noise  was  mistaken  by  the  Norman  soldiers, 
outside  of  the  abbey,  for  a  hostile  demonstration  against  the  new 
king ;  and  they  immediately  set  fire  to  the  neighboring  houses, 
when  a  great  tumult  occurred.  But  the  ceremony  of  coronation 
and  anointing  went  on,  and  William  took  oath  to  govern  as 
justly  as  the  best  of  the  Saxon  kings  had  governed  before  him. 

2.  Although  William  was  in  possession  of  the  south-eastern 
part  of  England,  a  considerable  portion  of  the  kingdom  was 
still  in  revolt  against  his  authority ;  and  nearly  four  state  of  xht 
years  were  spent  in  wars  to  secure  the  consolidation  kingdom. 
of  his  realm.     But  many  of  the  nobility,  including  Edwin  and 

•  45 


n  '►■ 


^    ; 


I 


) 


46 


HISTORY  OF  ENGLAND. 


[1066. 


^r^'/u^  '^''"'"'''  "'''  "^  ^"^"'^  ''"d  Northumbria,  and 
tdgar  Atheling,  gave  in  their  submission  to  the  king  either 
before,  or  soon  after,  his  coronation. 

3.  He  seemed  anxious  to  govern  acceptably  to  the  people 
of  London;  yet  he  built  in  their  midst  a  fortress,  now  a  part  of 
Hi.  policy.  'I'^  J'""'^'"  "f  London,  and  filled  it  with  soldiers 
that  he  might  hold  in  check  any  symptoms  of  dis- 
content or  disloyalty.  This  was  his  policy  wherever  he  went  • 
and  many  of  the  castles  and  strongholds  of  England  had  their 
ongm  m  his  re.gn,  including  one  he  built  on  the  site  of  the 
present  palace  of  Windsor.    He  confiscated  the  lands  of  Harold 

lavontes,  who  were  promoted  to  the  principal  offices  of  impor- 
tonce ;  and  he  also  caused  the  Norman  language  to  be  adopted 
in  the  service  of  the  church,  as  well  as  in  the  courts  of  justice. 

4.  Accompanied  by  a  retinue  of  distinguished  English  noble- 
men, W.lI,a,T,  spent  the  summer  following  his  coronation  in 
Hi.  .b«a„.    ,^o™an<ly.  looking  after  his  Continental  possessions. 
The  management  of  affairs  in  England  during  his 

Bayeux,  and  W.lham  F.tz  Osborn ;  but  these  officer  did  not 
at  all  times  govern  wisely.     The  building  of  castles  for  Norman 
garrisons,  and  the  exclusion  of  Saxons  from  office  to  make  places 
Di«ontent.     ^°'"  ^"""^n  officials,  went  on,  and  occasioned  much 
d'ssatisfaction  among  the  English.    Frequent  oppo- 
sition to  Norman  oppression  was  manifested  ;  and  an  open  revolt 
of  the  people  in  some  parts  of  the  country  seemed  immanent,  i 
when,  late  in  the  autumn,  William   suddenly  returned   from 
Normandy,  and  took  measures  to  quell  the  rising  storm      He 
proceeded  to  Ix.ndon,  and,  by  his  presence  and  skilful  manage- 
ment, secured  the  co-operation  of  the  nobility  and  people.     But 
there   were  mutterings  of  discontent  at   the   north  and    the 
west. 

5.  After  holding  the  winter  session  of  the  Witan,  he  marched 
against  Exeter,  a  strongly  fortified  city  in  the  south-west,  which 


1069.] 


THE  NORMAN  FA  MIL  V. 


47 


Revolts. 


The  Danes. 


he  besieged,  and  compelled  to  surrender.  The  mother  and 
sons  of  Harold  were  in  the  city  ;  but  they  escaped,  and  left  the 
country.  He  made  two  expeditions  to  the  north-  Exeter  and 
east,  quelling  insurrections,  and  fortifying  such  York, 
positions  as  would  enable  him  to  check  the  future  movements 
of  the  insurgents.  Two  castles  were  built  and  garrisoned  at 
York. 

6.  During  the  year  1069  the  most  formidable  uprising  of 
the  people  took  place  which  William  had  been  called  upon  to 
encounter.  In  the  west  the  spirit  of  hostility  was 
bold  and  aggressive;  and  in  the  north-east  the 
people  were  joined  by  the  Danes,  who  came  in  a  large  fleet, 
either  to  regain  the  position  they  once  held  in  England,  but  had 
lost,  or  to  assist  the  English  in  their  attempt  to  rid  themselves 
of  their  Norman  masters.  The  fleet  entered  the 
Humber,  where  it  was  joined  by  another  from  Scot- 
land, under  Edgar  Atheling,  and  by  a  number  of  English  earls 
and  their  numerous  followers.'  The  combined  forces  immedi- 
ately moved  upon  York,  where  the  Norman  garrison  felt  secure 
within  their  castles ;  although  they  immediately  set  fire  to  the 
neighboring  houses,  that  the  invaders  might  not  use  their  mate- 
rial to  fill  up  the  castle  ditches.  The  fire  spread  Disaster  at 
with  amazing  rapidity,  and  continued  to  rage  for  York, 
two  or  three  days,  consuming  the  greater  part  6f  the  city,  with 
its  ancient  cathedral.  The  Normans  sallied  forth  from  their 
strongholds  to  repel  the  invaders;  but  they  were  completely 
defeated,  the  castles  destroyed,  and  the  garrison,  numbering 
three  thousand,  put  to  the  sword. 

When  the  news  of  this  disaster  reached  William,  while  hunt- 
ing in  Dean  Forest,  on  the  Severn,  he  swore  terrible  vengeance 
upon  the  Northumbrians.  He  immediately  pro-  wiUiam's 
ceeded  with  a  large  force  to  York,  which  he  found  movements, 
deserted.  The  Danes  had  retired  to  their  fleet  in  the  Humber, 
and  gave  no  further  trouble;  and  as  in  the  following  spring, 
when  joined  by  another  of  their  fleets,  under  the  command  of 


^1 


M 


48 


1:1  STORY  OF  ENGLAND. 


[1069. 


1 
20G9.] 


THE  NORMAN  FAMILY, 


:iN 


King  Sweyn,  they  entered  the  Thames,  and  then  withdrew  with- 
out doing  harm,  it  is  beheved  that  in  both  instances  Wilham 
tried  successfully  the  effect  of  bribery  upon  these  sea-roving 
adventurers. 

7.  WiUiam's  Christmas   season  was   spent   in  repairing   his 
castles,  and  in  plans  for  making  an  example  of  this  rebellious 
Devastation    ^^strict  that  should  admit  of  no  doubtful  interpreta- 
in  Northum-  tion ;  and  his  plans  were  formed  and  carried  out 
with  a  deliberation  and  energy  worthy  of  a  better 
cause.     Sending  forth  his  troops,  he  laid  waste  the  whole  coun- 
try, from  the  Humber  northward  beyond  the  Tees,  for  a  hundred 
miles.     Every  human  habitation  and  other  buildings,  with  furni- 
ture and  farming  utensils,  were  burned ;  domestic  animals  were 
killed  j  and  of  the  inhabitants,  those  who  offered  resistance  were 
put  to  death ;  while  others  fled  to  the  woods  and  the  marshes, 
many  of  whom  afterwards  returned  to  the  smoking  ruins  of  their 
homes,  and  perished  of  starvation.     One  hundred  thousand 
lives  are  said  to  have  been  lost*  in  this  work  of  devastation. 
The  desolation  of  the  land  was  complete.     Fifteen  years  after- 
wards it  was  spoken  of  as  a  "  waste ;  "  and  even  at  the  end  of 
half  a  century,  it  is  related  that  the  country  for  more  than  sixty 
miles  was  "totally  uncultivated  and  unproductive." 

This  act  of  William  savors  more  of  Vandalism  than  of  legiti- 
mate warfare,  and  has  ever  been  severely  condemned;  but, 
How  re-  while  he  had  no  wolfish  delight  in  shedding  blood, 
earded.  or  in  causing  misery  to  others,  it  was  his  policy  to 

leave  no  foe  unconquered,  and  no  aggressive  enemy  unpunished. 
Those  who  were  friendly  and  loyal  to  him  shared  his  confidence 
and  generosity ;  but  those  who  opposed  him,  or  plotted  against 
him,  found  that  his  vengeance  was  quick  and  sure. 

8.  From  York,  the  king  led  his  army  across  the  country  to 
Chester.  Chester,  an  old  Roman  town,  where  he  quelled  an 
insurrection,  and  ordered  the  erection  of  a  castle. 

This  virtually  completed  the  Conquest ;  and  William  was  now 
the  acknowledged  sovereign  of  his  realm,  although  occasional 


49 


revolts  of  a  local  character  required  his  attention.    Scottish 
invaders  were  several  times  driven  back  into  their  own  country  • 
an  expedition  was  made  against  Wales ;  and  Here-  Minor         ' 
ward,  a  rebel  Saxon,  intrenched  himself  with  his  voitl"*" 
followers  upon  the  island  of  Ely,  in  the  fen  country  of  Cam- 
bridgeshire.   William  laid  siege  to  the  island,  using  flat-bot- 
tomed  boats,  and  constructing  a  causeway  through 
the  marshes.     The  nature  oi  the  country  made  the  ^^* 
siege  a  very  difficult  one,  but  the  monks  of  Ely  came  to 
William's  assistance.    They  were  fond  of  good  living ;  but  the 
siege  cut  off  their  supplies,  and  they  showed  him  I  way  of 
approach  to  the  island,  by  wliicli  he  speedily  compelled  the 
insurgents  to  surrender. 

9.  Several  years  afterwards,  while  upon  the  Continent,  the 
king  liad  a  serious  difficulty  with  his  oldest  son  Robert,  who 
rebelled  against  him  because  he  could  not  have  the  ^  famii 
duchy  of  Normandy  bestowed  upon  himself.  Father  tro^.''  ' 
and  son  met  in  battle,  clad  m  armor,  and  not  knowing  each 
other,  until  William,  having  been  wounded,  called  for  help ; 
when  Robert,  recognizing  his  father's  voice,  immediately  asked 
his  forgiveness,  —a  favor  which  the  stern  old  Norman  granted 
very  grudgingly, 

10.  The  king's  favorite  recreation  was  hunting ;  and,  although 
there  were  several  royal  forests  for  tliat  purpose,  he  wished  to 
have  another  near  his  palace  at  Winchester.     For  ^^  j,^^^ 
this  purpose  he  laid  waste  the  country  for  thirty  and\^'*' 
miles  in  extent,  destroying  more  than  thirty  parish   churches 
and  all  the  dwellings  of  the  people,  who  were  driven  out,  and 
obliged  to  seek  homes  elsewhere.    Tliis  was  called  New  Forest. 
A  hunting  forest  includes  not  only  woodland,  but  open  land 
uncultivated  and  unoccupied.    This  act  could  not  be  called  a 
war  measure,  like  the  devastation  of  Northumbria,  but  seems  to 
liave  been  done  to  gratify  William's  excessive  fondness  for  mere 
sport.     His  forest  laws  were  very  severe,  reserving  to  himself  the 
^ilmost  exclusive  privilege  of  kHliiig  game,  and  making  it  as 


M 


50 


HISTORY  OF  ENGLAND. 


[1085. 


10S5.] 


THE  NORMAN  FAMIL  V. 


m 


jti 


f  I 

Si 


"t; 


•     ! 

t 


.     ) 


\ 


great  a  crime  to  kill  an  animal  without  permission  as  to  kill  a 
man.  He  "loved  the  tall  deer  as  though  he  were  their  father ; " 
and  whoever  killed  a  deer  or  a  boar  had  his  eyes  put  out. 

II.  The  most  notable  event  in  the  reign  of  the  Conqueror 

was  his  survey  of  the  kingdom  in  1085,  the  results  of  which 

Doomsday         WCrC     rC- 

Book.  corded  in 

a  book  called  Dooms- 
day Book.  This  book, 
in  two  volumes,  is  still 
preserve<l ;  and  con- 
sidering the  time  in 
which  it  was  made, 
and  the  thoroughness 
of  the  survey,  it  is 
probably  one  of  the 
most  remarkable  his- 
torical documents  in 
existence. 

The  record  gives 
the  different  classes 
of  people,  as  barons, 
thanes,  inferior  land- 
owners, tenants,  slaves, 
and  "  free  women." 
The  list  of  offices  and 
occupations  is  quite  full.  In  the  upper  classes  there  were 
chamberlains,  stewards,  butlers,  constables,  and  treasurers,  pro- 
viders of  the  king's  carriages,  standard-bearers,  hawk-keepers 
and  bow-keepers,  foresters,  hunters,  law  men,  and  mediciners. 
Of  the  common  workmen  there  were  goldsmiths,  carpenters, 
smiths  and  amiorers,  farriers  and  potters,  ditchers,  fishermen, 
millers,  salters,  bakers,  tailors,  and  barbers,  also  mariners, 
watchmen,  moneyers,  and  minstrels.  On  the  farm  there  were 
ploughmen,  bee-keepers,  shepherds,  neatherds,  goatherds,  and 


A  NORMAN  KNIGHT. 


51 

swineherds.  The  ownership,  'extent,  and  value  of  land,  is  given 
as  gram  land,  meadow,  pasture,  and  wood  land;  also  the 
marshes,  whose  rent  was  paid  in  eels.  There  is  a  list  of  vine- 
yards, gardens,  salt-works,  iion  mines  and  works,  and  fisheries 
1  he  number  of  manors  owned  by  the  king  and  his  favorites  is 
given,  and  is  very  large  ;  and  the  number  of  dwellings,  with  their 
rents,  IS  recorded  for  many  of  the  principal  cities  and  burghs 
thougii  not  for  Lon-  ^    ' 

don  and  a  few  other 
places.      The  enu- 
meration     included 
churches  and  castles, 
-nd   the   number  of 
iiouses  destroyed  and 
the   land  wasted  for 
the  building   of  the 
casUes.     Altogether, 
Doomsday   Book 
gives  us  a  very  good 
index  to  the  state  of 
society,  the  occupa- 
tions of  the  people, 
and  the  products  of 
the  land,  of  England, 
for  the  latter  part  of 
the  eleventh  century. 


12.   The    political  a  saxon  peasant. 

and  social  system  of  England  was  greatly  modified   by  the 

Son  If '7  ''*°'"'f  '^  '''■■"""•  '"h^"  ''^  gained  pos- 
session of  the  countr)',  he  claimed  that  the  entire  %    ,  , 

hnd  belonged  to  him  by  the  right  of  conquest.  IT''""-. 
At  first  the  lands  of  Harold's  family  and  of  some  of  the  leader, 
occunanr  f  ■'^""f  '"''"'  ''''''  '^^"fi^'^^^d ;  but  the  other 
or  ransom.    After  the  survey,  the  country  was  divided  into  a  large 


52 


mSTdHY  OF  ENGLAND, 


[1085. 


1085.] 


THE  NORMAN  FA  MIL  K 


\ 


ill 


'M 


u» 


number  of  portions  (some  say  sixty  thousand),  called  "knight's 
fees."  Many  of  these  fees  the  king  kept  for  his  own  use  ;  but 
the  greater  part  of  them  were  assigned  to  the  earls,  barons,  and 
other  officers,  all  of  whom  were  called  "  tenants-in-chief,"  and 
who  were  obliged  to  swear  allegiance  to  the  king,  and  to  defend 
him  in  all  wars.  These  tenants  were  obliged  to  furnish,  at  the 
king*s  command,  for  every  fee,  one  mounted  soldier  and  attend- 
ants, to  serve  free  for  forty  days  in  each  year.  The  holders  of 
these  fees  sublet  portions  to  under  tenants,  who  were  also  com- 
pelled to  furnish  service,  either  military  or  otherwise ;  and  all 
freemen  and  slaves  were  bound  to,  or  were  the  property  of,  some 
master.  It  was  essentially  a  military  system,  and  for  centuries 
was  a  heavy  weight  upon  the  progress  of  the  country.  It  gave 
the  king  a  ready  and  a  large  army  when  needed ;  and  the  many 
taxes  and  exactions  which  it  imposed,  for  the  assumption  and 
transfer  of  tenures  and  rights,  also  gave  him  a  full  treasury, 
especially  when  added  to  the  frequent  confiscations  of  property. 
The  relation  of  the  different  classes  under  the  Saxons  had  a 
seeming  resemblance  to  some  features  of  the  feudal  system : 
but  the  tenure  of  land  was  materially  different  with  the  Saxons ; 
there  was  less  harshness  and  severity  in  the  system  of  the  Sax- 
ons, and  more  general  and  individual  freedom. 

13.  William  was  an  avowed  friend  of  the  Church ;  but  his 
ecclesiastical  policy,  like  his  management  of  civil  and  military 
William  and  affairs,  made  it  necessary  for  him  to  displace  English 
the  Church,  officials,  to  find  places  for  the  hordes  of  Normans 
who  were  constantly  importuning  for  offices  and  their  emolu- 
ments. Bishops  and  priests  and  their  subordinates  were  alike 
compelled  to  vacate  their  offices  and  their  livings.  Even  Stigand, 
the  Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  one  of  the  officiating  prelates  at 
William's  coronation,  was  not  spared.  The  monasteries  were 
searched ;  and  the  money,  deposited  there  for  safety  by  those 
who  feared  confiscation,  was  seized  and  converted  into  the  royal 
treasury.  The  king  gave  much  time  and  personal  attention 
to  ecclesiastical  affairs,  and  was   instrumental  in  the  found- 


S^ 


mg  or  rebuildmg  of  many  cathedrals,  abbeys,  and  churches 
and  in  the  introduction  of  an  improved  style  of  architecture' 
As  to  the  standard  of  the  Church,  intellectual  and  moral  it  was* 
probably  raised  somewhat ;  but  the  relations  between  the  Norman 
clergy  and  the  English  people  were  neither  cordial  nor  profit- 
able in  a  religious  sense.  Yet  many  of  these  Norman  prelates 
vyere  men  of  great  learning  and  ability,  and  of  fine  tastes  :  and 
they  made  their  influence  felt  in  all  the  civilization  of  the  a-e 

William's  half-brother.  Bishop  Odo,  who  was  also  Earf  of 
Kent,  was  active  and  influential  in  church  afiairs,  but  became 
arrogant  and  ambitious,  and  even  aspired  to  the 
Papacy.  This  so  exasperated  the  king,  that  he  °***** 
immediately  seized  him  and  cast  him  into  prison,  and  when 
remonstrated  with  by  Odo,  remarked  that  he  did  not  imprison 
the  Bishop  of  Bayeux,  but  the  Earl  of  Kent. 

When  Harold  fell  at  Hastings,  William  made  a  vow  to  erect 
a  sacred  monument  on  the  very  spot  where  Harold's  standard 
was  placed ;  and  that  vow  was  fulfilled  in  subse-   ^ 
quent  years  by  the  erection  of  Battle  Abbey,  ^  an   Abbey, 
extensive  structure,  as  its  ruins  fully  testify. 

14.  The  latter  part  of  William's  reign  was  spent  in  Normandy 
where  he  had  a  war  with  the  kings  of  France,  during  which 
much  loss  of  life  and  destruction  of  property  took  win-     • 
place.    Having  burned  the  town  of  Mantes,  William  lasl  da™s.' 
was  riding  through  its  smoking  ruins,  when  his  horse  stumbled 
and  fell,  from  which  his  royal  rider  received  a  serious  injury  and 
was  carried  back  to  Rouen.    It  is  related,  that,  when  he  became 
sensible  that  his  end  was  near,  he  expressed  much  sorrow  and 
contrition  for  the  blood  he  had  shed  and  the  misery  he  had 
caused  in  his  numerous  wars.     To  his  son  Robert 
then  in  Paris,  he  left  the  duchy  of  Normandy ;  the  ^"'i"*'^''- 
sovereignty  of  England  was  bestowed  upon  William,  who  imme- 
diately set  out  to  take  possession ;  and  to  Henry  he  gave  five 
thousand  pounds  of  silver,  realized  from  the  possessions  of 
Queen  Matilda,  who  had  died  a  few  years  before.    As  soon  as 


./-/ 


/ 


v. 


54 


HISTORY  OF  ENGLAND, 


["35- 


1135.] 


THE  NORMAN  FA  MIL  Y. 


55 


ill 


His  funeral. 


the  king  ceased  to  breathe,  his  attendants  all  fled,  taking  as 
plunder  whatever  articles  were  within  their  reach ;  and  the  body 
of  the  dead  conqueror  was  left  alone.  A  friend 
conveyed  it  to  Caen  \  and,  as  the  procession  neared 
the  church  which  William  himself  had  built,  a  great  conflagra- 
tion broke  out  in  the  town,  and  again  the  corpse  was  deserted, 
and  left  alone  in  the  street.  Having  been  taken  into  the  church, 
it  was  about  to  be  lowered  into  the  grave,  when  a  person  cried 
out  that  the  land  upon  which  the  church  was  built  had  been 
seized  from  his  father  without  pay ;  and  the  ceremony  was  not 
completed  until  money  was  raised  to  satisfy  this  demand. 

15.  William  possessed  great  abilities,  both  as  a  statesman  and 
a  warrior.  He  ruled  England  with  a  strong  hand,  and  left  the 
William's  impress  of  his  genius  upon  all  her  institutions.  He 
character.  was  not  greatly  beloved  by  his  subjects,  for  he  in- 
truded upon  them  a  foreign  people  and  a  foreign  civilization ; 
and  his  unprincipled  greed  for  wealth,  and  the  inflexible  military 
element  of  his  character,  were  not  calculated  to  make  him 
popular.  Yet  his  court  was  one  of  briUiance  and  splendor. 
His  personal  appearance  was  fine,  being  tall  and  well  propor- 
tioned J  and  he  is  said  to  have  been  so  strong  that  scarcely  any 
other  person  in  that  age  could  bend  his  bow,  or  handle  his  arms. 

16.  William  II.  (1087),  surnamed  Rufus  from  his  red 
hair,  was,  like  his  father,  ambitious  and  tyrannical,  but  inferior 
William  II.  ^^  ^^™  ^^  talent,  and  without  the  generosity  and 
and  his  reign,  humanity  which  often  governed  the  acts  of  the 
Conqueror.  After  a  reign  of  thirteen  years,  which  was  disturbed 
by  insurrections,  and  by  quarrels  with  the  ecclesiastics,  particu- 
larly with  Anselm  the  primate,  he  was  accidentally  shot  by  Sir 
Walter  Tyrrel  with  an  arrow  aimed  at  a  stag  in  the  New  Forest. 

17.  Henry  I.  (i  100),  surnamed  Beauclerc,  or  the  scholar, 
on  account  of  his  learning,  was  the  younger  brother  of  William 

Rufus.     He  took  advantage  of  the  absence  of  his 
eldest  brother,  Robert  (iioo),  the  rightful  heir,  who 
was  on  a  crusade  to  the  Holy  Land,  and  secured  the  crown  for 


Henry  I. 


\ 


k 


himself.  He  invaded  his  brother's  Norman  dominions;  and 
Robert,  on  his  return,  was  defeated,  taken  prisoner,  and'  con- 
fined in  Wales  till  his  death. 

18.  Henry  married  Matilda  of  Scotland,  great-grand-daughter 
0  /  UVof  Edmund  Ironside  ;  and  in  this  way  the  Saxon  and  Norman 
families  were  united.     The  latter  part  of  his  life  was 
rendered  disconsolate  by  the  loss  of  his  only  son    y"*°°  °^ 

I  111."  Saxon  and 

Who  was  drowned  on  his  passage  from  Normandy ;    Norman 
and  from  that  fatal  moment  he  was  never  seen  to   ^^'"*"^*' 
smile.     Henry   was   an    able,    courageous,   and   accomplished 
sovereign,  but  ambitious,  licentious,  and  ungrateful. 

19.  On  the  death  of  Henry  (1135)  the  crown  fell  by  right 
to  his  daughter  Matilda,  or  Mauti,  married  first  to  Henry  V., 
Emperor  of  Germany,  and  afterwards  to  Geoffrev    * 

T>i      .  T-     ,      <-    .     .  v^v,vviic_y     Accession  of 

1  lantagenet,  Earl  of  Anjou.  By  the  latter  she  had  Stephen, 
several  children,  of  whom  the  eldest  bore  the  name  of  Henry. 
But  Stephen,  a  nephew  of  the  late  king,  the  most  popular 
nobleman  in  the  kingdom,  and  distinguished  for  his  ambition, 
valor,  generosity,  and  courtesy,  seized  upon  the  crown.  Matilda 
immediately  landed  in  England,  and,  raising  a  small  army, 
defeated  Stephen,  and  took  possession  of  the  crown :  but  her 
haughty  and  despotic  behavior  caused  a  revolt ;  and  Stephen 
in  his  turn  defeated  her,  compelled  her  to  quit  the  kingdom, 
and  again  obtained  jxissession  of  the  throne. 

20.  Henry,  the  son  of  Matilda,  afterwards  invaded  England ; 
and,  during  the  heat  of  the  contest,  Eustace,  the  king's  eldest 
son,  was  removed  by  a  sudden  death.     Soon  after  c 

ii  •  ...  oecures  the 

tins  event  the  jarrmg  interests  of  the  two  parties  throne. 
'  were  reconciled,  Stephen  being  allowed  to  retain  the  crown 
during  his  life,  and  Henry  being  acknowledged  as  his  succes- 
sor; and  this  transaction  was  shortly  afterwards  followed  by 
Stephen's  death.  During  this  reign  England  was  harassed  and 
desolated  by  a  succession  of  civil  contentions  and  wars,  which 
were  carried  on  with  unrelenting  barbarity,  by  the  pillage  and 
destruction  of  the  inhabitants  and  the  conflagration  of  the 
towns. 


A' 
p  1 


56 


HISTORY  OF  ENGLAND, 


f"35. 


I'  il 


21.  The  political  consequences  of  the  wars  of  this  reign, 
though  disastrous  in  the  extreme,  could  hardly  be  more  so  than 
Social  were  the  injuries  inflicted  upon  the  social  condition 

distress.  of  jj^e  people.  So  sharply  were  the  lines  drawn  be- 
bveen  the  adherents  of  Matilda  and  of  Stephen,  that  neighbor- 
hoods and  families  were  divided,  and  arrayed  against  each  other 
in  the  bitterest  strife.  Nearly  every  baron,  intrenched  in  his 
castle,  became  the  head  of  a  band  who  engaged  in  plunder 
and  robbery  almost  without  discrimination.  Extensive  tracts 
of  country  were  uncultivated,  and  many  considerable  towns 
and  districts  were  deserted  by  the  inhabitants.  The  dead  re- 
mained unburied;  and  the  churches  and  graveyards  became 
places  of  refuge  to  the  poorer  people,  with  their  slender  means. 
But  even  there  robbery  and  conflagration^  drove  them  forth, 
and  everywhere  misery  seemed  their  only  lot. 

22.  Stephen  was  a  man  of  fine  presence,  gentlemanly  and 
courteous  in  his  bearing,  and  very  cheerful  in  his  disposition. 
Stephen's  Although  thoroughly  trained  to  war,  and  an  able 
cbMMcter.  commander,  he  was  neither  wanton  nor  cruel.  But 
when  he  violated  his  oath  in  regard  to  the  succession,  usurped 
the  throne,  and  found  the  country  plunged  in  civil  war,  he 
became  the  cause  of  much  suffering  and  misery  among  the 
people. 

23.  The  second  husband  of  Matilda,  Geoffrey,  Earl  of  An- 
jou,  gave  the  name  to  the  family  of  fourteen  kings,  his  descend- 
ants,  who  followed  the  reign  of  Stephen.  It  was 
the  custom  of  the  earl  to  wear  in  his  cap  a  sprig  of 
the  broom-plant,  the  Planta  genista,  or  Pianfa  a  genet,  from 
which  was  derived  the  royal  family  name  Plantagenet.  Sur- 
names (sire  names)  began  to  be  commonly  used  in  England  at 
this  period. 


Plantagc&et. 


THE  PLANTAGENET  FAMILY, 

INCLUDING  THE  BRANCHES  OF  LANCASTER  AND  YORK. 

CHAP,  n.-iv. 

1154  to  i485»— 331  years. 


CHAPTER  IL 

THE  PLANTAGENETS. 
"54  to  1399,-245  years. 


Henry  II. 
Richard  I. 


John. 
Henry  III. 


Edward  I. 
Edward  II. 


Edward  HI. 
Richard  II. 


TJENRY;  II.,  the  first  of  the  Plantagenets,  -  being  de- 
X  i  scend^d  by  his  grandmother  from  the  Saxon  kings,  and 
by  his  mother  from  the  Norman  family, — succeeded 
to  the  throne  (.154),  to  the  great  satisfaction  of  ^dTd.- 
the  nation.     He  is  sometimes  called  Shortmantle    ""■"<»»• 
because  he  brought  the  use  of  short  cloaks  out  'of  Anjou  to 
England     In  addition  to  England.-he  possessed  by  inheritance, 
and  by  his   marriage  with  Eleanor,  heiress  of  the  duchy  of 

ror""''/T''^'^  °"'"''^'  °''  ^'■^"'^^'  ^°*i  during  his  reign  he 
conquered  Ireland;  so  that  he  had  more  extensive  dominions 
«^an  any  Enghsh  monarch  who  had  preceded  him,  and  was  the 

Sr  rrS  T"T  °'  ^'  '^'-  O^  Eleanor,  his  oueen. 
Sir  James  Mackintosh  says,  "She  was  the  firebrand  of  his 
family,  m  whose  eyes  the  fair  dowry  of  Aquitaine  appeared  a 
cover  for  every  crime." 

57 


58 


mSTORY  OF  ENGLAND, 


[1170 


^^ll\ 


THE  PLANTAGENETS, 


/ 


2.  The  different  countries  of  Europe  had  for  a  century  been 
Church  and  agitated  with  the  contest  between  Church  and  State, 
State.  Qj.  jj-jg  ecclesiastial  and  civil  authority.  This  con- 
test reached  its  height  in  England  during  Henry's  reign,  of 
which  it  forms  a  prominent  feature.  Thomas  a  Becket,  the 
Thomas  4  hero  and  martyr  of  the  ecclesiastical  party,  a  man 
Becket.  Qf  extraordinary  talents  and  great  ambition,  exalted 
his  power  to  such  a  degree,  that  it  would  admit  of  a  question 
whether  the  king  or  the  archbishop  was  the  first  man  in  the 
kingdom.  Becket  had  for  some  time  held  the  office  of  chan- 
cellor, and  lived  in  the  manner  of  a  prince  ;  but,  on  assuming 
the  office  of  Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  he  dismissed  his  splen- 
did train,  cast  off  his  magnificent  apparel,  abandoned  sports 
and  revels,  and  wore  the  habit  of  a  monk. 

3.  During  the  preceding  reign  the  power  of  the  clergy  had 
increased  to  a  most  exorbitant  height ;  and  Henry  resolved  lo 
Council  of  restrain  their  authority,  and  reform  their  abuses; 
Clarendon.  ^cciA  for  this  purposc  he  summoned  in  1164  a 
general  council  of  the  nobility  and  clergy  at  Clarendon,  and 
submitted  to  them  sixteen  propositions,  which  were  agreed  to, 

nd  are  known  under  the  title  of  the  "  Constitutions  of  Claren- 
don." With  other  things,  it  was  enacted  that  clergymen 
accused  of  any  crime  should  be  tried  by  temporal  judges. 
Becket,  however,  made  the  most  resolute  and  formidable  re- 
sistance to  the  changes  proposed  by  Henry ;  and,  after  a  long 
series  of  contests  with  the  haughty  primate,  the  king  was  on  a 
certain  occasion  so  exasperated  by  his  conduct,  that  he  rashly 
exclaimed,  "  What !  among  all  those  whom  I  have  obliged  is 
there  none  who  will  avenge  me  of  that  insolent  priest  ?  "  The 
Death  of  words  were  scarcely  spoken,  when  four  knights  of 
Becket.  distinguished   rank,   interpreting   the    king's   com- 

plaints as  commands,  set  out  with  a  resolution  to  avenge  the 
wrongs  of  their  sovereign.  They  pursued  the  prelate  into  the 
cathedral,  and  assassinated  him  before  the  altar. 

The  account  of  this  transaction  filled  Henry  with  consterna- 
tion, and  caused  great  excitement  in  England.    Becket  died  a 


59 


"\, 


martyr  to  ecclesiastical  authority,  and  the  manner  of  his  death 
effected  the  triumph  of  his  cause.     He  was  canonized  by  the 
Pope  as  a  saint,  by  the  title  of  St.  Thomas  of  Canterbury  •  and 
numerous  miracles  were  said  to  be  wrought  at  his  tomb  which 
became  a  celebrated  resort  of  pilgrims.     Henry  publicly  ex- 
pressed his  sorrow  for  having  used  the  rash  words  which  had 
ocasioned  'the  death  of  the  primate,  and  expiated  his  offence 
by  a  humiliating  penance  at  his  tomb.     Having  approached 
within  three  miles  of  Canterbury,  he  dismounted,  walking  bare- 
foot over  the  flinty  road,  which   in  some  places   he   marked 
with  blood,  to  the  consecrated  spot ;  spent  there,  in  fasting  and 
prayer,  a  day  and  night ;  and  even  presented  his  bare  shoulders 
to  be  scourged  by  the  monks  with  a  knotted  cord.     The  assas- 
sins did  penance  by  a  pilgrimage  to  Jerusalem,  where  they  died  • 
and  this  inscription,  in  Latin,  v/as  put  on  their  tomb :  "  Here 
he  the  wretches  who  murdered  St.  Thomas  of  Canterbury." 

4.  The  latter  part  of  Henry's  life  and  reign  presents  an  in- 
volved  and  deplorable  scene  of  family  discord  and  contention 
—  sons  against  their  father,  wife  against  husband,   „ 
and  brother  against  brother.     His  three  eldest  sons,  fam^r^ 
Henry,  Geoffrey,  and  Richard,  instigated  by  their  *^°"bies. 
mother,  and  assisted  by  Louis  VH.,  King  of  France,  engaged 
in  a  series  of  rebellions,  with  a  design  to  wrest  the  crown  from 
their  father.     Queen   Eleanor   left   her  husband,  and  openly 
associated  herself  with  the  rebellion  of  her  sons;  but  she  was! 
while  making  her  way  to  the  court  of  France,  taken  (dressed  in 
male  attire),  brought   back   to   Henry,  and   kept  in  confine- 
ment during  the  rest  of  his  life.     The  queen  had  been  irritated 
against  her  husband  by  his  neglect  and  infidelities,  and  particu- 

.  m.  of  tH '  f ^"'^'r "'  '^  ^o.^^^or.A  Clifford,  who,  under  the 
.  mle  of  the     Fair  Rosamond,"  isdescribed  as  a  woman  of  ex- 
traordinary beauty,  and  whq^flS^a  conspicuous  figure  in  the 
romances  and  ballads  of  the  times. 

Henry  had  manifested  for  his  children,  in  their  more  early 
years  an  affection  bordering  on  excess ;  and  when  he  at  last 
tound  that  his  youngest,  unworthy,  but  favorite  son,  John  like 


6o 


mSTORY  OF  ENGLAND. 


[1189 


r 


1 189.] 


THE  PLANTAGENETS, 


61 


1;      ■! 


\\       1 1 


f 


aH  the  rest,  had  joined  the  confederacy  against  him,  he  felt  that 
his  cup  of  affliction  was  full,  gave  himself  up  to  transports  of 
ungovernable  grief,  cursed  the  day  of  his  birth,  uttered  impre- 
cations against  his  sons  (which  he  could  never  be  prevailed 
upon  to  retract),  and,  worn  out  with  cares,  disappointments,  and 
sorrows,  died  of  a  broken  heart. 

5.  The  character  of  Henry  may  be  regarded  as  a  mixture  of 
the  qualities,  good  and  bad,  naturally  arising  out  of  strong  in- 
Henry's  tellect,  a  Strong  will,  and  strong  passions.  He  was 
character.  distinguished  both  as  a  warrior  and  a  statesman, 
and  he  is  ranked  among  the  ablest  and  most  useful  sovereigns 
that  have  occupied  the  throne  of  England.  The  government 
was  still  despotic  ;  but  the  power  of  the  barons  was  restrained 
during  this  reign,  and  the  laws  better  administered  than  they 
had  been  since  the  conquest.  Trial  by  jury,  sometimes  errone- 
ously ascribed  to  the  time  of  Alfred,  probably  had  its  origin  in 
this  reign ;  and  Henry  was  the  first  who  appointed  travelling 
judges  to  hold  court  in  different  parts  of  the  kingdom,  thereby 
saving  much  time  and  expense  to  the  accused  and  witnesses. 
He  abolished  the  absurd  practice  of  trial  by  ordeal,  in  use  since 
the  time  of  Edward  the  Confessor ;  and  taxes  were  first  levied 
on  personal  estate  in  England  during  this  reign. 

6.  Henry  was  a  patron  of  the  arts,  particularly  of  Gothic 
architecture ;  and  his  reign  is  remarkable  for  being  the  period 
The  arts;  when  many  of  the  sumptuous  English  edifices  were 
comforts  of  erected,  and  also  for  the  introduction  of  various 
'^**  improvements  with  regard  to  the  conveniences  and 
comforts  of  life.  The  ^ts  of  luxury,  however,  were  yet  in  a 
rude  state.  Glass  windows  were  regarded  as  a  mark  of  ex- 
traordinary magnificence  ]fe|^d  the  houses  of  the  citizens  of 
London  were  constructecr^f  wood,  covered  with  thatch,  and 
the  floors  were  covered  with  fttow. 

The  description  of  the  munificence  displayed  by  Becket 
while  he  was  chancellor  of  the  kingdom  will  afford  some  idea 
of  the  rude  state  of  the  art§.     Nobody,  it  is  said  by  contem- 


porary writers,  equalled  him  in  refinement  and  splendor. 
"  Evf^ry  day,  in  winter,  his  apartments  were  strewed  with  clean 
straw  or  hay,  and  in  summer  with  rushes  or  leaves,  that  those 
who  came  to  pay  their  court  to  him  might  not  soil  their  fine 
clothes  by  sitting  on  a  dirty  floor." 

7.  Richard  I.,  sumamed  Coeur  de  Lion  {kur  duh  ie-ong), 
or  lion-hearted,  who  succeeded  his  father  Henry  II.   (1189)^ 
commenced  his  reign  by  a  cruel  persecution  of  the  Richard  i 
Jews.    The   frenzy  for  the   crusades  was  at   this  and  the 
period  at  its  height  in  Europe.     These  crusades  ^'""^««- 
were  military  expeditions  undertaken  by  the  Christian  nations 
of  Europe  for  the  recovery  of  the  Holy  Sepulchre  and  Pales- 
tine from  the  Mussulmans.     To  a  prince  of  the  adventurous 
spirit  and  military  talents  of  Richard  these   enterprises  pre- 
sented irresistible  attractions ;   and,  after  making  preparation, 
he,  in  connection  with  Philip  Augustus  of  France,  embarked' 
on  an  expedition  to  the  Holy  Land.    They  took  Acre  in  con- 
cert; and  Richard,  especially,  acquired  great  renown  by  his 
exploits,  and  defeated  the  heroic  Saladin,  the  famous  Saracen 
chief,  in  the  battle  of  Ascalon,  in  which  about  forty  thousand 
of  the  Saracens  were  slain.     On  his  voyage  homeward,  being 
shipwrecked,  he  disguised  himself,  with  an  intention  of  travel- 
ling through  Germany ;  but  he  was  discovered,  and  imprisoned 
by  the  emperor.     He  was  ransomed  by  his  subjects  for  the 
sum  of  three  hundred  thousand  pounds,  and,  after  an  absence 
of  nine  years,  returned  to  his  dominions ;  but  he  died  not  long 
after  of  a  wound  which  he  received  at  the  siege  of  the  castle 
of  Chalus,  in  France,  belonging  to  one  of  his  rebellious  vassals. 

8.  Richard,  who  has  been  styled  the  Achilles  of  modem  his- 
tory, was  pre-eminent  for  his  valor,  which  was  almost  his  only 
merit.     Even  a  century  after  his  death  his  name   His  charac- 
was  employed  by  the  Saracen  cavalier  to  chide  his  ^er. 
horse,  and  by  the  Saracen  mother  to  terrify  her  children.     His  • 
ambition,  tyranny,  and   cruelty  were   scarcely  inferior  to  his 
valor.     His  laurels  were  steeped  in  blood,  and  his  victories  were 
purchased  with  the  impoverishment  of  his  people. 


trr 


63 


BTSTORY  OF  ENGLAND, 


[1199. 


121,6 


THE  PLANTAGENETS, 


^i 


% 


g.  Richard  was  succeeded  by  his  brother  John  (1199),  who 
is  supposed  to  have  murdered  his  nephew  Arthur,  who  was  the 
soa  of  Geoffrey,  an  elder  brother,  and  the  rightful  heir.  Phih'p 
Accession  of  Augustus  of  France  supported  the  claim  of  Arthur 
John.  jQ  i^hg  throne  \  and,  on  account  of  his  being  mur- 

dered, he  stripped  the  English  mon^ch  of  his  possessions  in 
that  country.  In  consequence  of  this  loss  of  his  territories, 
John  received  the  surname  of  Lackland. 

10.  John  excited  against  hiiiSself  the  displeasure  of  Pope 
Innocent  III.,  who  proceeded  to  lay  the  kingdom  under  an 
Quarrel  with  interdict,  and  afterwards  excommunicated  the  king, 
the  Pope.  2^jj(j  absolvcd  his  subjects  from  their  allegiance. 
The  wretched  monarch  was  intimidated  into  submission,  and 
on  his  knees  solemnly  surrendered  his  kingdom  to  the  holy  see, 
consenting  to  hold  it  as  the  Pope's  vassal.  In  this  manner  he 
made  peace  with  the  Church ;  but  he  brought  upon  himself  the 
universal  contempt  and  hatred  of  his  people. 

11.  The  barons,  under  the  direction  of  Langton,  the  primate, 
formed  a  confederacy,  and  demanded  of  the  king  a  ratification 
Magna  of  a  charter  of  privileges.  John,  bursting  into  a 
Charta.  furious  passion,  refused  their  demand.  They  im- 
mediately proceeded  to  open  war ;  and  the  king,  finding  him- 

^  self  deserted,  was  compelled  to  yield.  He  met  his  barons  at 
Runnymede,  and,  after  a  debate  of  a  few  days,  signed  and 
sealed  (1215)  the  famous  deed  of  Magna  Charta,  or  the  Great 
Charter,  which  secured  important  liberties  and  privileges  to 
every  order  of  men  in  the  kingdom,  and  which  is  regarded  as 
the  great  bulwark  of  English  liberty.  John  granted  at  the  same 
time  the  Charter  of  the  Forest,  which  abolished  the  exclusive 
right  of  the  king  to  kill  game  all  over  the  kingdom. 

12.  The  character  of  John  is  represented  as  more  odious 
than  that  of  any  other  English  monarch  ;  debased  by  every  vice, 
john'^  with  scarcely  a  single  redeeming  virtue.  His  reign, 
character.  though  most  unhappy  and  disastrous,  is,  notwith- 
standing, memorable  as  the  era  of  the  dawn  of  English  fi-eedom. 


13.  Henry  III.  succeeded  (1216)  to  tlie  throne  at  the  age 
of  only  nine  years,  under  the  guardianship  of  the  Earl  of  Pem- 
broke.    He  was  a  weak  monarch,  timid  in  danger 

o     i    Henry  III  • 

presumptuous  in  prosperity,  and  governed  by  un-  character" 
worthy  favorites.  His  lot  was  cast  in  a  turbulent  '""*™8°- 
period  of  English  history ;  and  his  long  reign  of  fifty-six  years 
consisted  of  a  series  of  internal  conflicts,  though  it  was  little 
disturbed  by  foreign  war.  The  incapacity  of  the  king  was 
more  productive  of  inconvenience  to  himself  than  of  misery  to 
his  subjects.  Under  his  wealc  but  pacific  sway  the  cause  of 
popular  freedom  was  advanced,  and  the  nation  grew  more 
rapidly  in  wealth  and  prosperity  than  it  had  done  under  his 
military  and  more  renowned  predecessors. 

14.  Towards  the  latter  part  of  the  reign  of  Henry    the 
barons,  with  Simon  de  Montfort  (Earl  of  Leicester)  at  'their  I  i 

head,  entered  into  a  confederacy  toieize  tlie  retas ' 

of  government;    and   they  compelled    Henry  to  f«L"^ 
delegate  the  regal  power  to  twenty-four  of  their  '"''"'°«''- 
number.     These  divided  among  themselves  all  the  offices  of 
government,  and  new-modelled  the  Parliament  by  summonin-r 
a  certam  number  of  knights  chosen  from  each  county     This 
measure   proved   fatal   to   the  power  of  the  barons ;  for  the 
knights,  mdignant  at  Leicester's  usurpation,  concerted  a  plan 
for  restoring  the  king.     A  civil  war  ensued.     Leicester,  at  the 
head  of  a  formidable  force,  defeated  the  royal  army  at  Lewes 
and  made  both  the  king  and  his  son  Edward  prisoners.     He 
compelled  the  feeble  king  to  ratify  his  authority  by  a  solemn 
treaty,  assumed  the  character  of  regent,  and  called  a  parlia- 
ment, summoning  two  knights  from  each  shire,  and  deputies 
from  the  principal  boroughs  (1265).     This  ife  regarded  as  the  ' 
era  of  the  commencement  of  the  House  of  Commons,  being    ' 
,    the  first  tmie  that  representatives  to  Parliament  were  sent  froi^   ■ 
,   the  boroughs.  "^ 

»u  ^T^.  Edward,  having  at  length  regained  his  liberty,  took 
the  field  against  Leicester,  and  defeated  him  with  great 
1  Slaughter  in  the  famous  battle  of  Evesham.    In  this  battle 


\ 


64 


HISTORY  OF  ENGLAND. 


I1272. 


'Wl 


THE  PLANTAGENETS. 


H 


t    (I 
■J 


I 


Jews. 
Wales. 


\^/ 


§' 


Leicester  himself  was  killed ;  and  Henry,  by  the  assistance  of 
his  son,  was  again  placed  on  the  throne. 

^^5.  Edward  I.,  sumamed  Longshanks  from  the  length  of 
Edward  I  ^^  '^S^'  ^"  succeeding  to  the  throne  (1272), 
and  the  caused  two  hundred  and  eighty  Jews  in  London  to 

be  hanged  at  once  on  a  charge  of  having  cor- 
rupted the  coin ;  and  fifteen  thousand  were  robbed 
of  their  effects,  and  banished  from  the  kingdom.  He  soon 
after  undertook  to  subdue  Wales;  and  having  defeated  and 
slain  the  sovereign,  Prince  Llewellyn,  he  annexed  the  country 
to  the  crown  of  England.  He  created  his  oldest  son  Prince 
of  Wales,  —  a  title  which  has  ever  since  been  borne  by  the 
oldest  sons  of  the  English  monarchs. 

16.  The  conquest  of  Wales  inflamed  the  ambition  of  Edward, 
and  inspired  him  with  the  design  of  extending  his  dominion  to 
War  with  the  extremity  of  the  island.  On  the  death  of  Alex- 
Scotiand.  ander  HL,  who  left  no  son,  Bruce  and  Baliol  were 
competitors  for  the  throne  of  Scotland ;  and  Edward  was  chosen 
umpire  to  decide  the  contest  between  the  two  rivals.  He 
adjudged  the  crown  to  Baliol,  who  engaged  to  hold  it  as  a  vas- 
sal of  the  King  of  England.  Baliol,  however,  soon  afterwards 
renounced  his  allegiance  :  hence  arose  a  war  between  England 
and  Scotland,  which  lasted,  with  litde  intermission,  upwards  of 
seventy  years,  and  drenched  both  kingdoms  with  blood.  Ed- 
ward invaded  Scotland  with  a  large  army,  defeated  the  Scots 
with  great  slaughter  in  the  battle  of  Dunbar,  and  subdued  the 
kingdom ;  and  Baliol  was  carried  captive  to  London. 

17.  While  Edward  was  prosecuting  a  war  in  France,  the 
Scots  were  roused  to  exertion  for  the  recovery  of  their  inde- 
pendence by  their  renowned  hero.  Sir  William  Wallace ;  but, 
William  ^^^^^  gaining  a  series  of  ^tories,  thgyr  were  at 
waiiawand  length  defeated  by  the   King    of  Enfland,  with 

immense  loss,  in  the  battle  of  Falkirk.     Wallace 
became  a  prisoner  of  Edward,  who  put  him  to 
death  with  barbarous  cruelty.     Th^  Scots   found  a  second 


Robert 
Bruce 


\ 


champion  and  deliverer  in  Robert  Bruce,  grandson  of  the 
competitor  of  Baliol,  who,  having  expelled  the  English  from  the 
country,  was  raised  to  the  throne  of  his  ancestors.  Edward 
prepared  to  make  a  new  invasion  with  an  immense  army,  But 
died  after  having  advanced  as  far  as  Carlisle. 

18.  Edward,  who  was  one  of  the  greatest  of  the  English 
sovereigns,  was  eminent  as  a  warrior ;  and,  on  account  of  his 
wisdom  as  a  legislator,  he  has  been  styled  the  Eng-  Edward's 
lish  Justinian.     But  he  was  in  disposition  a  tyrant    <^aracter. 
and,  as  often  as  be  dared,  trampled  on  the  liberties,  or  invaded 
the  property,  of  his  subjects.     He  was,  however,  admired  by 
his  contemporaries ;  and  his  barons  respected  the  arbitrary  sway 
of  a  monarch  as  violent  and  haughty  as  themselves.     His  reign 
was  highly  advantageous  to  the  kingdom,  particularly  for  the 
improvements  made  in  the  national  code  and  the  administra- 
tion of  justice.     He  repeatedly  ratified  Magna  Charta,  and  an 
important  clause  was  added  to  secure  the  people   from   the 
imposition  of  any  tax  without  the  consent  of  Parliament.    Ever 
since  that  time  there  has  been  a  regular  succession  of  Endish 
parL'aments. 

19.  Edward  II.,   sumamed  of  Caernarvon  (Kernaruon) 
from  the  place  of  his  birth,  soon  after  succeeding  to  the  throne 
(1307^,  in  compliance  with  his  father's  dying  ih-   Bannock 
junction,  invaded  ScoUand  with  an  army  of  one  bum. 
hundred  thousand  men,  which  was  met  at  Bannockbum  by 
thirty  thousand  Scots  under  their  king,  Robert  Bruce  (1314) 
A  great  battle  ensued,  in  which  the  English  sustained  a  more 
disastrous  defeat  than  they  had  experienced  since  the  battle  of 
Hastings.  . 

ao.  Edward  II.,  who  possessed  little  of  the  character  of  his 
father,  was  of  a  mild  deposition,  weak,  indolent,  fond  of  pleas- 
ure, and  governed  by  unworthy  favorites,  the  most  ^,     _  „ . 
femous  of  whom  were  Gaveston  and  the  two  Spen-  S!^„    ' 
cers.     His  inglorious  reign  was   characterized   by  """'"e"- 
the  corruption  of  the  court,  and  by  contests  and  war  between 


66 


mSTORY  OF  ENGLAND. 


[1327- 


1.146.1 


the  king  and  the  barons ;  and  his  life  was  rendered  unhappy 

by  a  series  of  mortifications  and   misfortunes.      Isabella,  his 

infamous  queen,  fixed   her  affections,  which   had   long  been 

estranged  from  her  husband,  upon  Mortimer,  a  powerful  young 

baron ;  and  she,  together  with  her  paramour,  formed  a  con"^ 

spiracy  against  the  king,  and  compelled  him  to  resign  the  crown 

to  his  son.     Eklward  was  then  thrown  into  a  prison,  and  after- 

-  ards  murdered,  by  order  of  Mortimer,  in  a  barbarous  manner. 

j^fore  his  death,  and   while   he   was    in    prison,  Parliament 

declared  the  throne  vacant,  thereby  ^^-^M.v^ipg  {^  ^gj^^  ^^ 

depose  a  sovereign.  K 

21.  Edward  III.  succeeded  to  the  throne  (1327)  at  the 
age  of  fourteen  years.  A  council  of  regency,  consisting  of 
Edward  III.    twelve  persons,  was  appointed  during  the  minority 

Ti^n '^'        ^^  ^^  ^*°^ '  ^^^  Mortimer  and  Isabella  possessed 
the  chief  control.    A  treaty  was  made   with   the 
Scots,  virtually  acknowledging  the  independence  of  their  king 
and  parliament.     But  Edward,  on  coming  of  age,  could  no't 
endure  the  authority  of  a  man  who  had  caused  the  murder  of 
his   father,  or  of  a   mother  stained   with   the   foulest  crimes 
Mortimer  was  condemned  by  Parliament,  and  hanged  upon  a 
gibbet ;  and  Isabella  was  imprisoned  for  life  at  Castle  Risings, 
and  continued  for  twenty-eight  years  a  miserable  monument  of 
blasted  ambition. 

22.  The  king,  soon  after  he  was  established  on  the  throne, 
made  war  with  the  Scots,  and  defeated  them  with  great  slaugh- 
Warwith       ^er  in  the  battle  of  Halidon  Hill  (1333).     On  the 

wUh^lTJ*  ^"""^  ""^  ^^"^^^^  ^^•'  ^  *^*^  ^^^'™'  i«  «-'g*it  o(  his 
mother,  to  the  crown  of  France,  which  he  attempted 
to  gain  by  force  of  arms,  in  opposition-Co  Pliilip  of  Valois,  who 
was  acknowledged  by  the  French  nation  as  the  rightful  heir. 
This  claim  involved  the  two  countries  in  a  long  and  sanguinary 
war.  After  having  made  his  preparations,  Edward  sailed  from 
England  with  a  powerful  armament.  His  fleet,  consisting  of 
two  hundred  and  fifty  sail,  encountered  that  of  France,  araount- 


T/IE  PLANTAGENETS. 


6f 


ing  to  four  hundred  ships,  off  the  coast  of  Flanders,  and  gained 
one  of  the  greatest  naval  victories  recorded  in  history      The 
loss  of  the  English  is  stated  at  four  thousand  men  and  two 
ships,  that  of  the  French   at   thirty  thousand   men  and   two ' 
hundred  and  thirty  ships. 

Edward  then  invaded  France  at  the  head  of  thirty  thousand 
troops,  and  in  the  famous  battle  of  Cressy  (1346)  gained  a 
splendid  victory  over  Philip,  the  French  king,  who  ^ 
had  an  army  of  upwards  of  one  hundred  thousand  the  bThcIc 
men,  and   whose   loss   exceeded    thirty  thousand.   ^""^«- 
This  battle  is  noted,  not  only  for  the  greatness  of  the  victory 
but  also  for  being  the  first  in  English  history  in  which  cannon 
were  made  use  of,  and  likewise  for  being  the  scene  in  which 
Edward,  the  king's  eldest  son  (called  the  Black  Prince  from 
the  color  or  covering  of  his  armor),  then  only  sixteen  years  of 
age,  commenced  his  brilliant  military  career.     Edward  after 
wards  besieged  and  took  Calais,  which  remained  in  the  posses- 
sion of  the  English  till  the  time  of  Queen  Mary.  ^^^.^ 

23.  While  the  English  monarch  was  in  France,  the  Scots  un- 
der their  king,  David,  invaded  England,  and  were  de- 
feated at  Neville's  Cross,  near  Durham,  by  Philippa    ^*^"^pp*- 
Edward's  heroic  queen  ;  and  their  king  was  led  prisoner  to  Lon- 
don.    Of  the  four  generals  under  the  queen,  three  were  prelates. 

24.  John,  who  succeeded  his  father  on  the  throne  of  France 
took  the  field  with  an  a^my  of  sixty  thousand  men  against  the 
tilack    Prince,  who,  with    only  sixteen    thousand 

troops,  gained  a  signal  victory  at  Poitiers  (Pwa-   ^°'''^''' 
^ers)  ,1356.     King  John  was  taken  prisoner,  and  led  in  triumph 
by  the  victorious  prince  to  London,  where  he  was  kept  a  fellow- 
captive  with  David  of  Scotland. 

25.  Edward,  in  the  latter  part  of  his  reign,  sank  into  indo- 
lence  and  indulgence,  and  experienced  a  reverse  of  fortune  • 
and,  before  his  death,  all  his  conquests,  with  the  Possession.' 
exception  of  Calais,  were  wrested  from  him      His   ^o^t- 
son,  the  Black  Prince,  falling  into  a  lingering  consumption,  was 


68 


HISTORY  OF  EXGLAXD, 


\jy77 


1377.] 


TITE  PLANTAGEXETS, 


\ 


'  obliged  to  resign  the  command  of  the  army ;  and  Charles  V. 
of  France,  an  able  sovereign,  recovered  most  of  the  English 
possessions  in  that  country.  The  death  of  the  Black  Prince, 
illustrious  for  his  amiable  virtues,  as  well  as  for  his  noble  and 
heroic  qualities,  plunged  the  nation  in  grief,  and  broke  the 
spirits  of  his  father,  who  survived  him  only  about  a  year,  having 
occupied  the  throne  fifty  years. 

26.  Edward  was  the  most  powerful  prince  of  his  time  in 
Europe,  and  in  personal  accomplishments  is  said  to  have  been 
Edward's  superior  to  any  of  his  predecessors.  His  domestic 
character  administration  was  in  many  respects  excellent,  and 
an  reign.  advantageous  to  his  subjects.  The  astonishing  vic- 
tories which  cast  so  much  military  splendor  on  his  reign,  and 
which  are  accounted  the  most  brilliant  in  English  history,  appear 
to  have  dazzled  the  eyes  both  of  his  subjects  and  foreigners, 
who  placed  him  in  the  first  rank  of  conquerors.  But  his  wars 
with  France  and  Scotland  were  unjust  in  their  object;  and, 
after  having  caused  great  suffering  and  devastation,  he  at  last 
found  that  the  crowns  of  those  kingdoms  were  beyond  his 
reach. 

In  this  reign  chivalry  was  at  its  zenith  in  England ;  and  in  all 
the  virtues  which  adorned  the  knightly  character,  in  courtesy, 
munificence,  and  gallantry,  in  all  the  delicate  and  magnanimous 
feelings,  none  were  more  conspicuous  than  Edward  III.,  and 
his  son  the  Black  Prince.  Their  court  was,  as  it  were,  the  sun 
of  that  system  which  embraced  the  valor  and  nobility  of  the 
Christian  world. 

27.  The  tide  of  Duke,  now  one  of  the  highest  orders  of 
Order  of  nobility,  was  first  applied  to  the  Black  Prince ;  and 
**"*'**•  his  father  first  introduced  the  order  of  the  Knights 

of  the  Garter.  During  this  reign  the  black  death,  a  terrible 
pestilence  which  came  across  Europe  from  the  East, 
prevailed ;  and  it  is  said  that  nearly  half  the  popu- 
lation of  London  died,  and  many  villages  and  towns  were 
depopulated. 


69 


JnCftClldOCCS* 


28.  The  language  of  the  people  underwent  great  changes 
during  Edward's  reign,  and  towards  its  close  the  English  lan- 
guage was  used  instead  of  the  Norman  or  French  The  English 
in  the  courts  and  in  the  schools.     Sir  John  Man-   language. 
deviUe,  whose  account  of  his  travels  in  the  East  is  one  of  the 
oldest  books  written  in  English  prose,  lived  during  this  reign. 

29.  Richard  II.,  the  unworthy  son  of  Edward  the  Black 
Prince,  succeeded  to  the  throne  (1377)  at  the  age  of  eleven 
years.     He  was  indolent,  prodigal,  perfidious,  and  r,^.     . ,, 

a  slave  to  pleasure.    The  administration  of  the  andhLe-' 
government  during  the  minority  of  the  king  was  ^*°^*- 
in  his  own  name,  but  was  conducted  by  a  council  chosen  by 
the  peers;    and   this   council  was  greatly  influenced,  though 
oftentimes  secretly,  by  the  king's  three  uncles,  —  the  Dukes  of 
Lancaster,  York,  and  Gloucester,  —  whose  contests  embroiled 
all  the  public  measures.    Of  these  the  Duke  of  Lancaster,  John 
of  Gaunt,  or  Ghent  (so  named  from  the  place  of  his  birth), 
was  the  most  distinguished,  and  was  possessed  of  great  wealth 
and  power:   but  he  became  unpopular,  particularly  with  the 
courtiers  and  clergy;  and  he  was  noted  for  being  (for  political 
reasons,  as  is  supposed)  the  protector  of  Wickliffe  the  re- 
former,  whose   preaching  for  a  number  of  years  against  the 
corruptions  of  the  Church  had  made  him  prominent,  and  gained 
for  him  many  adherents. 

30.  A  poll-tax  of  three  groats  (about  one  shilling),  imposed 
by  Pariiament  upon  every  male  and  female  above  the  age  of 
fifteen  years,  excited  universal   discontent  among 
the  lower  classes,  on  account  of  its  injustice  in  re-  ^'^  ^^**'* 
quiring  as  much  of  the  poor  as  of  the  rich.    One  of  the  brutal 
^x-gatherers,  having  demanded  payment  for  a  blacksmith's 
daughter  whom  the  father  asserted  to  be  below  the  age  sped- 
fied,  was  proceeding  to  improper  familiarities  with  her,  when 
the  enraged  father,  named  Wat  Tyler,  dashed  out  the  ^ax- 
gatherer's  brains  with  a  hammer.    The  spectators  applauded 
the  action.     A  spirit  of  sedition  spread  through  the  kingdom, 


70 


HISTORY  OF  ENGLAND. 


[13S& 


1399] 


THE  FLA NTA  GENETS. 


>fi 


if 

n 

I' 


itt 


ti 


V 

■ 

J' 


I- 


,•1 


I 


and  a  hundred  thousand  insurgents,  under  Tyler,  were  soon 
assembled  upon  Blackheath ;  but  the  leader  was  slain,  and  his 
followers  were  finally  compelled  to  submit.  This  movement 
is  known  in  history  as  the  Peasants'  Revolt,  or  Wat  Tyler's 
Rebellion. 

31.  While  the  kingdom  was  convulsed  with  domestic  contests, 
it  was  also  engaged  in  hostilities  with  France  and  Scotland.  At 
War  with  Otterbum  (1388)  was  fought,  between  the  English 
Scotland  and  under  Percy  (surnamed  Hotspur  on  account  of  his 

France.  r  ^  x  ,      ,        ^ 

fiery  temper)  and  the  Scotch  under  Douglas,  a 
batde,  in  which  Percy  was  taken  prisoner,,  and  Douglas  was 
slain.  On  this  battle  is  founded  the  celebrated  ballad  of  Chevy 
Chace. 

32.  Richard  unjustly  banished  his  cousin  Henry,  the  eldest 
son  and  heir  of  John  of  Gaunt  (Duke  of  Lancaster),  and  on 
The  king  de-  the  death  of  the  duke  he  seized  upon  his  estate; 
posed.  byj^  ji^g  i^jj^g  having  afterwards  undertaken  an  ex- 
pedition to  Ireland  in  order  to  quell  an  insurrection,  Henry, 
the  ^oung  duke,  took  advantage  of  his  absence,  returned  to 
England,  landed  at  Ravenspur,  soon  found  himself  at  the  head 
of  a  numerous  army,  and  compelled  Richard,  on  his  return,  to 
resign  the  crown.  The  king  being  very  unpopular,  the  Parlia- 
ment readily  confirmed  his  deposition  :  he  was  then  imprisoned, 
and,  as  is  generally  supposed,  afterwards  murdered. 

33.  During  this  and  the  preceding  reigns,  John  WicklifTe, 
the  early  refornier,  lived.  He  was  educated  at  Oxford,  where 
Wickiiffe  he  was  also  master  of  one  or  two  colleges,  and 
and  Chaucer,  ^iyi^j^y  professor.  WicklifTe  was  reputed  to  be 
highly  distinguished  for  his  theological  knowledge  and  for  his 
scholastic  ability.  He  engaged  in  controversies  with  the  men- 
dicant friars,  preached  against  the  corruption  and  temporalities 
of  the  Church,  and  made  the  first  English  translation  of  the 
Bible.  John  of  Gaunt,  Duke  of  Lancaster,  was  his  friend  and 
protector. 

Contemporary  with  him  was  Geoffrey  Chaucer,  called  the 


71 


"  father  of  English  poetry."     He  was  educated  at  Oxford  and 

Cambridge,  and  was  a  man  of  rare  genius,  and  very  popular  at 

the  brilliant  court  of  Edward  HL     His  principal  work  was  the 

''  Canterbury  Tales,"  in  which  he  represents  a  party  of  thirty 

persons,  of  various  occupations  in  life,  journeying  from  London 

on  a  pilgrimage  to  the  shrine  of  Thomas  a  Becket  at  Canterbury, 

and  relieving  the  tiresomeness  of  the  journey  by  telling  stories! 

These  stories  contain  an  accurate  picture  of  the  manners  and 

customs  of  his  time,  and  his  work  is  still  regarded  as  an  English 

classic.     Chaucer  was  one  of  the  first  celebrities  buried  (1400) 

in  the  Poets'  Corner  in  Westminster  Abbey. 

34.  The  Duke  of  Lancaster  was  raised  to  the  throne  with 
the  title  of  Henry  IV. ;  though  Edmund  Mortimer  was  the  true 
heir  to  the  crown,  being  descended-  from  Lionel, 
the  third  son  of  Edward  HL  ;  whereas  Henry  was  "''"'^  ^^* 
the  son  of  John  of  Gaunt,  the  fourth  son  of  Edward  IH. 
Hence  began  contests  between  the  houses  of  York  and 
Lancaster. 

35-  At  the  close  of  this  period  (1399)  nearly  three  centuries 
and  a  half  had  elapsed  since  the  landing  of  William 
the  Conciueror,  and  during  this  time  great  changes  ^^^"s:es. 
had  taken  place  in  the  kingdom. 

36.  Many  of  the  most  objectionable  features  of  the  feudal 
system  had  disappeared.     After  the  Conquest,  and  especially 
during  the  reign  of  Stephen,  the  number  of  baronial 
castles  erected  was  very  large.     Tliese  structures,   ^^*"^* 
generally  built  upon  a  hill  or  rocky  eminence,  usually  consisted 
of  a  stone  tower,  or  keep,  in  some  cases  square,  in  others  round, 
with  walls  several  feet  in  thickness,  and  often  more  than  a  hun- 
dred feet  in  height,  and  with  very  narrow  windows,  or  loopholes. 
The  upper  part  of  this  keep  was  generally  the  residence  of  the 
baron,  or  lord  of  the  castle ;  while  the  underground  and  the 
lower  parts  were  used  as  a  dungeon  and  for  storerooms.    Around 
this,  in  the  larger  structures,  were  one  or  two  walls ;  the  outer 
one  being  flanked  with  towers,  enclosing  courts  within,  where 


1f 


»l 


fl 


if 


7a 


il IS  TORY  OF  ENGLAND. 


t'399. 


were  tae  res.dences  of  the  soldiers  or  knights,  and  the  retainers 
of  the  baron,  and  the  storehouses  of  the  estabhshraent.    Outside 
of  the  whole  was  a  moat,  or  deep  ditch,  filled  with  water,  over 
which  was  thrown  a  drawbridge,  taken  up  at  night  and  in  'limes 
of  danger.     The  main  entrance  was  protected  by  strong  iron 
doors,  and  a  portcullis,  which  consisted  of  a  heavy  iron  grating, 
or  framework  of  timbers,  pointed  at  the  lower  end  with  iron,  and 
hung  by  chains,  so  as  to  be  let  down  from  the  archway  above, 
and  effectually  bar  the  entrance  against  intruders  and  hostile 
invasion.     Some  of  these  castles  were  very  large,   covering 
several  acres  of  ground ;  and  they  were  so  substantially  built, 
that  many  of  their  ruins,  after  the  lapse  of  seven  or  eight  cen- 
turies, are  at  this  day  so  strong,  and  so  little  affected  by  time,  as 
to  excite  our  admiration  and  wonder. 

37-  Around  these  gloomy  walls  were  often  witnessed  some 
of  the  bloodiest  encounters  to  be  found  in  history.    The  barons 
Th.  baron..     ^"^^  ^^^'''  ^^^^^^rs.  Sallying^  forth  from  their  strong- 
holds,  made  war  upon  each  other  and  upon  the 
king,  and  committed  murder  and  robbery  in  the  most  wanton 
and  inhuman  manner.     So  great  became  the  danger  from  this 
source  during  the  reign  of  Henry  II.,  that  that  monarch  deter- 
mined  to  exterminate  those  "  robbers'  nests,"  as  he  was  accus- 
•  tomed  to  call  them ;  and  he  accordingly  caused  a  thousand 
casdes  to  be  demolished  or  dismantled.    This  gave  greater 
security  to  life  and  property,  and  put  a  check  upon  the  lawless- 
ness and  rapacity  of  the  barons. 

38.  The  power  of  the  clergy  was  very  great  during  these 
centuries,  and  the  Church  was  often  the  controlling  element  in 
Th,ci.rgy.  ^^^  government  of  the  kingdom.  The  Norman 
prelates  far  excelled  the  Saxon  church  officials  in 
their  ability  to  manage  the  affairs  of  Church  and  State ;  and 
their  policy,  inaugurated  at  the  Conquest,  took  strong  hold  of 
the  control  of  the  government.  The  strife  among  ecclesiastics 
for  places  and  their  emoluments,  and  for  worldly  possessions, 
was  intense,  and  not  unfrequently  led  to  quarrels  and  bloody 


'399.] 


THE  PLANTAGENETS. 


73 


contentions.  Tliey  were  politicians  and  warriors,  as  well  as 
church  officials,  and  were  active  participants  in  aU  matters  of 
public  interests,  and  sometimes  among  the  foremost  in  meas 
ures  and  acts  of  oppression.  At  the  close  of  the  fourteenth 
century,  the  power  of  the  clergy  had  been  greatly  curtailed  as 
compared  with  its  exercise  a  century  or  two  earlier. 

39.  This  was  pre-eminently  the  age  of  cathedral  and  church 
buildmg.     During  the  reigns  of  Henry  III.  and  Edward  I 
Westminster  Abbey  was  rebuilt  in  nearly  its  present 
condition,  some  alterations  and  additions  having  ^^*^«^'-^«- 
since  been  made;  and  York  and  Canterbury  Cathedrals,  and 
many  others,  were  either  rebuilt  or  begun  during  the  twelfth, 
thirteenth,  and  fourteenth  centuries.     Great  improvements  were 
rnade  in  the  architecture  of  these  edifices;  and  elegant  stained- 
glass  windows  became  quite  common,  many  of  which  are  at 
present  in  a  good  state  of  preservation.     Church  clocks  began 
to  be  introduced  at  the  close  of  the  thirteenth  century   one 
being  placed  upon  the  Canterbury  Cathedral  in  1292. 

40.  It  is  said,  that,  in  the  thirteenth  century,  nearly  one-half 
of  the  landed  estates  belonged  to  the  Church,  and  that  the 
revenue  received  by  the  pope  from  England  was  chu„:h 
greater  than  that  paid  to  the  crown.  Several  new  nur'  "^^- 
rehgipus  orders  were  introduced,  including  the  Dominican  and 
the  Franciscan  friars,  often  called,  from  the  color  of 
their  dress.  Black  Friars  and  Gray  Friars.  ^"*"- 

■    41.  There  were  often  exhibited,  for  the  entertainment  and 
religious  instruction  of  the  lower  classes  of  people,  rude  theat- 
rH:aJ  plays,  of  which  the  subjects  were  scenes  from  tirade 
the  Old  and  New  Testaments ;  such  as  the  Creation,  ^' 

InH  I  ^u  ^'"'  ^^''"  ^^  ^^'''  '^^  ^^^"g^'  ^he  Crucifixion, 
and  also  the  lives  and  miracles  of  the  saints.  The  exhibitions 
were  given  in  the  churches  and  ironasteries,  and  the  priests  and 
monks  were  among  the  principal  actors.  The  incidents  of  the 
p  ays  were  all  literally  given,  with  representations  of  the  persons 
ot  the  Trinity,  angels,  devils,  saints,  and  martyrs.     In  this  the 


74 


mSTOA'V  OF  ENGLAND, 


E»399. 


»399-] 


THE  PLANTAGENETS. 


i 


Morals. 


simple  faith  of  the  common  people  at  that  time  saw  no  impro- 
priety, and  their  religious  sense  was  probably  edified  rather  than 
shocked.  The  representations  were  very  lengthy ;  the  one  on 
the  Creation  and  Fall  of  Man  occupying  six  days.  To  ptevent 
these  plays  from  becoming  tedious  to  their  rude  audiences, 
comical  scenes  and  jesting  were  introduced;  but  this  finally 
degenerated  in  revelry,  and  the  ecclesiastics  were  prohibited 
from  taking  part  in  them. 

42.  Judged  in  the  light  of  modern  times,  the  state  of  morality 
was  then  low  among  all  classes ;  and  the  sabbath  was  so  openly 

profaned  by  secular  labor  and  every  species  of  dis- 
sipation and  worldly  pleasure,  that  in  1359  the 
Archbishop  of  Canterbury  issued  a  proclamation  forbidding  the 
opening  of  markets  and  fairs  on  Sunday,  and  commanding  "  all 
persons  to  go  to  the  parish  churches  on  that  day  to  ask  pardon 
for  their  offences,"  instead  of  devoting  it  to  business  or  sinful 
amusements. 

43.  The  principles  set  forth  in  Magna  Charta  were  subse- 
quently ratified  by  several  sovereigns,  and  began  to  give  the 
House  of  lower  classes  of  people  a  better  chance  for  justice. 
Commons.  YoT  two  ccnturics  after  the  Conquest,  the  great 
council  of  state  consisted  of  the  immediate  vassals  of  the  king ; 
that  is,  of  the  nobility,  including  bishops,  abbots,  barons,  and 
earls.  About  the  middle  of  the  thirteenth  century,  during  the 
reign  of  Henry  III.,  knights  of  the  shires  and  citizens  elected 
by  the  people  were  admitted,  and  occupied  the  lower  end  of 
the  hall  in  which  the  council  sat.  This  was  the  beginning  of 
the  House  of  Commons,  although  it  did  not  meet  in  a  separate 
chamber  until  the  time  of  Edward  III. 

44.  The  cause  of  learning  received  considerable  attention 
during  the  thirteenth  and  fourteenth  centuries.    Several  colleges 

and  schools  were  established  at  Oxford  and  Cam- 

Sducation. 

bridge,  which  now  form  a  part  of  the  universities  of 
those  well-known  seats  of  learning.  To  these  schools  a  large 
number  of  students  came,  not  only  from  England,  Scotland,  and 


75 

Ireland,  but  also  from  the  Continent.  Law  schools,  called  "  Inns 
o  Court,"  were  established  in  that  part  of  London  known  as 
Westminster,  in  the  fourteenth  century.  Schools  were  likewise 
founded  in  London,  St.  Albans,  and  other  large  towns.  But 
hese  mstitutions  received  their  patronage  very  largely  from  the 
higgler  dasses  of  people.  In  the  science  of  astronomy  consid- 
erable advancement  was  made ;  and  metaphysics,  mathematics, 
and  alchemy  were  leading  subjects  of  study. 

Roger  Bacon,  a  Franciscan  monk  and  teacher  at  Oxford,  who 
died  about  1292,  was  a  distinguished  scholar,  learned  in  the 
ancient  languages  and  in  almost  all  departments  of  „ 
knowledge.    He  prepared  several  text-books  and  b«o". 
treatises,  and,  with  apparatus  of  his  own  construction,  made 
extensive  investigations  in  the  natural  sciences  as  they  were  then 
known.     It  IS  generally  believed  that  he  was  familiar  with  the 
composition  of  gunpowder. 

Some  of  Bacon's  experiments  were  so  wonderful  and  so  little 
understood  that  the  ignorant  and  superstitious  accused  him  of 
sorcery,  and  he  was  imprisoned  for  many  years. 

45-  Much  time  and  investigation  were  wasted  in  the  study  of 

SST  I  "'"''K'':''  «"PP°«^d  that  a  univei^al  solvent 
could  be  discovered  that  would  dissolve'  all  other   ..  . 
substances.   The  philosopher's  stone  was  also  sought  a«™";;. 
for  that  would  change  the  baser  metals  into  gold.    Attention 

foretelhng  future  events  by  studying  the  heavenly  bodies ;  and 
pral«ces        '^     '°""'"'*^  "''^  fortune-telling  and  kindred 

Magic-lanterns  were  invented  in  the  reign  of  Henry  III     ' 
(1260),  and  spectacles  probably  soon  after,  in  the  time  of 
Mward  L    Gunpowder  and  cannpn  were  firet  used  by  the 
Enghsh  m  the  fourteenth  century. 

46.  From  the  Conquest  to  the  death  of  Chaucer,  changes  in 

wlh^^"  ^^'^  ^l"  "°^'^  '''°"Sh  constantly  taking  place. 
With  William  came  the  Norman  tongue,  which  was  the  language 


!.' 


It  I 


76 


mSTORY  OF  ENGLAND, 


[1399- 


of  the  court  and  polite  society.  The  Saxons  spoke  their  own 
tongue ;  while  Latin  was  the  language  of  the  church,  of  the 
The  Ian.  higher  institutions  of  learning,  of  the  laws,  and  of 
fuage.  books.     FoF  a  long  time  the  Saxon  refused  to  learn 

the  language  of  his  oppressor ;  while  the  proud  Norman  looked 
with  equal  disdain  upon  the  speech  of  the  Saxon,  whom  he 
regarded  as  belonging  to  an  inferior  class.  Some  peculiarities 
of  the  English  language  grew  out  of  the  relation  which  the 
different  classes  held  to  each  other  at  that  time.  Menial  labor 
was  performed  by  the  Saxon,  such  as  the  tending  of  the  flocks 
and  herds  of  domestic  animals ;  and  by  him  those  animals  were 
called  by  such  Saxon  names  as  ox,  cow,  calf,  sheep,  and  fowl. 
But,  when  those  animals  were  killed,  their  meat  was  not  for  the 
poorest  class,  but  was  served  upon  the  table  of  the  nobles,  where, 
in  Norman- French,  it  became  beef,  veal,  mutton,  and  poultry. 
But  in  course  of  time  the  better  class  of  Saxons  rose  above 
their  inferior  condition,  and  occupied  a  more  friendly  and  inti- 
mate relation  to  the  Norman,  which  eventually  resulted  in  an 
* 

assimilation  of  the  languages,  as  well  as  of  the  races. 

The  language  at  the  close  of  the  fourteenth  century  had 
assumed  that  form  called  Middle  English,  having  grown  up  from 
the  languages  of  the  Saxons  and  the  Normans,  with  a  slight 
intermixture  of  words  from  the  Celtic,  the  Lati%  and  the  Greek. 
It  was  now  spoken  at  court,  and  was  the  language  in  which 
books  began  to  be  written. 

47.  In  addition  to  the  amusements  and  recreations  to  which 
the  Saxons  had  been  accustomed,  the  feudal  system  introduced 
the  tournament,  a  kind  of  military  sport  or  exercise, 
meots.  Chiv-  in  which  mailed  knights  sought  to  exhibit  their 
*^^'  courage,  address,  and  skill  in  arras.    The  knights, 

imbued  with  the  spirit  of  chivalry,  professed  to  be  actuated  by 
a  high  sense  of  honor,  and  to  be  the  defenders  of  the  Church 
and  its  clergy,  and  of  noble  and  defenceless  women,  as  well  as 
to  present  in  their  own  persons  the  embodiment  of  loyalty, 

nobler  virtues.    Some  of  their  defensive  armor 


truth,  and  aU^h^ 


>399-J 


THE  PLANTA GENETS. 


77 


was  made  of  small  steel  plates,  overlapping  each  other  like  the 
scales  of  a  fish ;  or  of  small  rings,  interlinked,  or  sewed  on 
leather ;  and  sometimes  of  large  heavy  plates,  bent  to  fit  differ- 
ent parts  of  the  body,  and  jointed  to  make  it  pliable. 

The  usual  armor  of  a  knight  on  the  occasion  of  a  tournament 
consisted  of  a  helmet  and  visor,  breastplate,  or  coat-of-mail, 
gauntlets,  greaves,  a  shield,  and  a  spear  or  lance,  with  its  point 
blunted,  or  protected  with  a  block  of  wood.  Mounted  upon 
spirited  horses,  and  with  their  lances  extending  far  before  them, 
these  knights  rushed  upon  each  other  with  such  terrific  force 
as  not  unfrequently  to  unhorse  the  riders,  and  even  to  maim 
and  kill  them.  He  was  adjudged  the  bravest  knight  who  kept 
his  seat  the  longest,  or  broke  the  greatest  number  of  lances. 
The  prize,  awarded  by  judges,  was  usually  a  ribbon,  a  scarf,  or 
a  banner,  and  was  received  by  the  victor  at  the  hands  of  some 
fair  lady. 

These  tournaments  were  given  on  great  occasions,  such  as 
the  coronation  of  a  king,  a  distinguished  victory,  or  a  birth  or 
man-iage  in  royal  and  noble  families ;  and  they  were  accom- 
panied by  much  ceremony  and  display,  and  witnessed  by  vast 
crowds  of  the  nobility,  among  whom  ladies  were  always  promi- 
nent. But  they  were  demoralizing  in  their  influence,  and  were 
at  times  interdicted  by  church  and  civil  authorities.     ' 

Chivalry  was  a  strange  mixture  of  religious  enthusiasm,  mili- 
tary ardor,  and  gallantry.     It  had  a  few  redeeming  features  :  it 
softened  the  manners  of  the  people  in  a  barbarous  age,  and 
infused  humanity  into  war  when  war  was  almost  the  business  of 
hfe.     It  introduced  courtesy  of  manners  when  the  people  were 
rude,  required  a  scnipulous  adherence  to  truth  when  falsehood 
was  notoriously  common,  and  exacted  a  respectful  and  delicate 
attention  to  the  female  sex  in  an  age  when  such  attention  was 
needed.     But  it  was  also  a  school  of  vice,  and  a  vaunting  and 
hollow-hearted  institution,  originated   and  conducted  for  the 
benefit  of  the  nobility.     It  never  had  for  its  object  the  relief 
and  the  improvement  of  the  lowly  and  the  poor,  however  worthy 
they  might  be.    Tournaments  ceased  when  the  feudal  system 
,  began  to  decay.  ♦ 


78 


HISTORY  OF  ENGLAND, 


[1399- 


Horse-racing  and  hunting  were  common  sports  of  the  Eng- 
lish, as,  indeed,  they  have  continued  to  be  until  the  present 
time. 

48.  The  large  number  of  vessels  brought  to  England  by  the 
Normans  gave  quite  an  impetus  to  trade  and  commerce.  In 
Trade  and  the  reign  of  Henry  H-.  trade  was  very  flourishing ; 
commerce,  but  at  Other  periods  it  was  greatly  hindered  by  petty 
legislation  and  by  jealousy  of  foreigners.  Wool  was  a  large 
article  of  export;  but  Edward  HI.  introduced  Flemish  weavers, 
and  the  manufacture  of  cloth  at  home  became  an  important 
industry. 

Dublin  became  the  seat  of  an  extensive  commerce,  and  was 
a  rival,  in  this  respect,  of  London,  which  was  considered  the 
principal  mart  of  the  kingdom.  London  became  the  capital  in 
the  twelfth  century,  and  is  supposed  to  have  had  a  population 
of  about  fifty  thousand  during  the  reign  of  John. 

Domestic  trade  was  commonly  carried  on  at  fairs,  or  in  small 
stalls  or  sheds ;  and  persons  who  dealt  in  silks,  ribbons,  and 
other  goods  imported  from  Milan,  received  the  name  of  "  mil- 
liners." 

Coal  is  said  to  have  been  discovered  at  New  Castle  upon 
Tyne,  ab9ut  1234,  during  the  reign  of  Henry  HL  Its  use  was 
at  one  time  prohibited  in  London,  as  its  smoke  was 
supposed  to  be  injurious  to  health ;  but  in  1381  the 
trade  in  coals  from  New  Castle  to  London  had  become  quite 
extensive. 

49.  It  is  not  thought  that  agriculture  made  very  much  prog- 
ress during  the  three  centuries  and  a  half  following  the  Conquest. 
A  ricuiture     '^^^  prevalence  of  war  is  unfavorable  to  agricultural 

pursuits.  There  was  some  improvement  in  farming 
utensils ;  hand-mills  for  grinding  grain  continued  in  use  among 
the  lower  classes,  while  water-mills  were  numerous  upon  the  great 
manors.  Flowers  were  generally  cultivated  by  all  classes ;  and 
vegetable-gardens,  fruit-orchards,  and  vineyards  were  common. 

50,  In  the  reign  of  John,  the  poorer  classes  were  still  living 


Coal. 


1399  J 


THE  PLANTAGENETS 


79 


in  rude,  thatched  huts;   but  the  dwellings  of  those  in  better 
circumstances  gave  evidence  of  more  comfort  and 
convenience.     They   are   described    as    generally  ^^"^^^^fi^- 
oblong  in  shape,  two  stories  high,  and  with  a  gable  at  each  end. 
Movable  stairs  on  the  outside  were  used  in  reaching  the  cham- 
bers ;  and  a  ladder  led  to  a  common  room  under  the  roof. 

But  at  the  close  of  the  fourteenth  century,  great  advance  had 
been  made  in  domestic  architecture,  and  the  houses  of  all 
classes  were  improved  in  comfort  and  style.  The  furniture  of 
the  rich  was  elaborately  carved,  and  the  upholstering  was  of  silk 
and  other  costly  materials.  The  will  of  an  eari,  made  in  the 
reign  of  Richard  II.,  mentions  beds  of  black  satin,  of  white, 
red,  and  blue  silk,  and  of  black  velvet,  embroidered  with  gold, 
silver,  and  colors. 

51.  When  the  Normans  came  to  England,  they  were  more 
abstemious  than  the  Saxons.  They  were  fond  of  meat ;  and 
their  bread  was  made  of  rye,  oats,  or  bariey.  But  on  special 
occasions  their  feasts  were  costly,  and  served  with  much  cere- 
mony and  display.  An  old  proverb  implies  that  they  had  but 
two  meals  a  day  :  — 

"  To  rise  at  five,  to  dine  at  nine, 
To  sup  at  five,  to  bed  at  nine, 
Makes  a  man  live  to  ninety-nine  " 

In  the  thirteenth  century,  the  daily  allowance  of  a  farm-laborer 
consisted  of  a  loaf  of  bread,  two  herrings,  and  milk  from  the 
dairy,  or  beer. 

But  in  course  of  time  luxurious  living  increased.  The  boar's 
head  was  the  favorite  royal  dish,  and  was  ushered  into  the 
dining-hall  with  the  sound  of  trumpets.  Rich  food,  spiced 
wines,  aqd  fermented  liquors  were  used ;  and  finally  gluttony 
and  excessive  drinking  became  so  common,  that  a  law  was 
enacted  limiting  the  number  of  courses  at  meals. 

52.  Fashions  in  dress  were  sometimes  most  absurd.  In  the 
twelfth  century,  fops  wore  long-pointed  shoes  twisted  in  the  shape 
cf  rams'  horns.     Two  centuries  later  these  projecting  points 


8o 


|ip 


HISTORY  OF  ENGLAND. 


['399- 


turned  up  in  front,  and  were  fastened  to  the  knees  by  chains  of 
gold  or  silver ;  while  the  head  was  covered  with  a  richly  em- 
Dress.  *  broidered  hood.  His  hose  were  not  both  of  the 
same  color,  and  his  jacket  was  party-colored  and 
fantastically  trimmed.  The  style  of  ladies'  dress  was  equally 
odd  and  extravagant.  Head-dresses  sometimes  towered  three 
feet  above  the  head,  and  were  decked  with  silken  streamers 
several  feet  in  length. 

Much  elegant  embroidering  was  done,  for  dress  and  for  house 
decoration,  by  the  ladies  of  good  families;  and  some  of  the 
vestments  of  the  clergy  wrought  by  them  are  spoken  of  as 
wonderful  specimens  of  needlework  and  ornamentation. 

Side-saddles,  for  ladies'  use,' were  introduced  in  the  reioi  of 
Richard  II.  ^ 


53-  The  system  of  villenage,  which  had  so  long  kept  the 
peasant-class  in  a  kind  of  slavery,  was  much  mitigated,  though 

lenage.  "^^  ^"^^'^^^  abolished.  The  peasants  were  now 
tenants  rather  than  serfs,  and  the  condition  of  the 
common  people  was  much  improved.  They  enjoyed  more  of 
the  comforts  of  life ;  and  their  rights,  their  property,  and  their 
lives  were  better  protected  by  law. 


uT 


CHAPTER   III. 
THE   BRANCH   OF  LANCASTER, 


Henry  IV. 


1 399-1461,  —  62  years 
Henry  V. 


Henry  VI. 


HENRY  IV.,  surnamed  Bolingbroke  from  the  place  of 
his  birth,  who  succeeded  to  the  throne  by  the  deposition 
and  murder  of  the  lawful  king  (1399)  and  the  ex-  ^ 
elusion  of  the  rightful  heir,  soon  found  that  the  and'perrecu- 
throne  of  a  usurper  is  but  a  bed  of  thorns.  A  ^°*'" 
combination  was  immediately  formed  against  him.  The  Scot^ 
under  Douglas,  and  the  Welsh  under  Owen  Glendower,  took 
part  with  the  rebels ;  but  their  united  forces  were  defeated  in  \ 
most  desperate  and  bloody  battle  at  Shrewsbury,  and  their 
leader,  Percy  (Hotspur),  was  killed  (1403). 

While  a  subject,  Henry  was  supposed  to  have  imbibed  the 
religious  principles  of  his  father,  John  of  Gaunt,  the  patron  of 
VVickhfTe  and  his  followers ;  but,  after  he  was  raised  to  the 
throne,  he  changed  his  faith,  endeavored  to  suppress  the 
opmions  which  his  father  had  supported,  and  was  the  first  Eng- 
hsh  monarch  who  caused  a  subject  (William  Sawtree)  to  be 
put  to  death  on  account  of  iiis  religious  opinions. 

2.  Henry  was  distinguished  for  his  military  talents  and  for 
his  political  sagacity ;  and,  had  he  succeeded  to  the  throne  by 
a  just  title,  he  miglit  have  been  ranked  as  one  of  character 
the  greatest  of  English  monarchs.     He  had  been   ^^^  ^^gn. 
one  of  the  most  popular  noblemen  in  the  kingdom.     Yet,  al- 
though his  reign  was  in  many  respects  beneficial  to  the  nation, 

81 


82 


mSTORY  OF  ENGLAND. 


iwz- 


'4'5] 


THE  BRANCH  OF  LANCASTER, 


83 


fjif 


he  became  a  most  unpopular  sovereign.  His  peace  of  mind 
was  destroyed  by  jealousy  and  by  remorse ;  he  was  an  object 
of  pity  even  when  seated  on  the  throne ;  and  he  felt  the  truth 
of  the  language  which  Shakspeare  puts  into  his  mouth, — *'  Un- 
easy hes  the  head  that  wears  a  crown." 

3.  The  latter  part  of  his  life  was  imbittered  by  the  extreme 
profligacy  of  his  son  Henry,  Prince  of  Wales.  One  of  the 
Prince  prince's  dissolute  companions  having  been  indicted 
Henry.  before  the  chief  justice,  Sir  William  Gascoigne,  for 
some  misdemeanor,  he  was  so  exasperated  at  the  issue  of  the 
trial,  that  he  struck  the  judge  in  open  court.  The  venerable 
magistrate,  mindful  of  the  dignity  of  his  office,  ordered  the 
prince  to  be  committed  to  prison.  Henry  quiedy  submitted, 
and  acknowledged  his  error.  When  the  circumstance  was  re- 
lated to  the  king,  he  is  said  to  have  exclaimed,  in  a  transport  of 
joy,  "  Happy  is  the  king  who  has  a  magistrate  endowed  with 
courage  to  execute  the  laws  upon  such  an  offender ;  still  more 
happy  in  having  a  son  willing  to  submit  to  such  chastisement  1 " 

4.  Henry  V.,  on  succeeding  to  the  throne  (1413),  imme- 
diately assembled  his  former  riotous  companions,  acquainted 
A  reformed  them  with  his  intended  reformation,  forbade  their 
kjoff-  appearance  in  his  presence  till  they  should  imitate 
his  example,  and  dismissed  them  with  liberal  presents.  He 
commended  the  chief  justice  for  his  impartial  conduct,  and 
encouraged  him  to  persevere  in  a  strict  execution  of  the  laws. 
This  victory  which  he  gained  over  himself  is  incomparably 
more  honorable  to  him  than  the  martial  exploits  which  have 
immortalized  his  name. 

5.  The  Wickliffites,  or  Lollards,  were  now  numerous  in  Eng- 
land, and  had  for  their  leader  the  famous  Sir  John  Oldcasde 

(Lord  Cobham),  a  nobleman  of  distinguished  tal- 
ents, and  high  in  favor  with  the  king.  But  Henry, 
in  matters  of  religion  being  under  the  influence  of  the  clergy, 
and  particularly  of  Archbishop  Arundel,  gave  up  to  his  enemies 
the  virtuous  and  gallant  nobleman,  who  was  condemned  for 
heresy,  and  put  to  death. 


Oldcastle. 


Harfleur. 


6.  Before  Henry  came  to  the  throne,  his  father  (Henry  IV.) 
had  advised  him  to  keep  his  subjects  occupied  with  foreign 
wars,  as  that  would  prevent  them  from  inquiring  into  Affairs  in 
his  title  to  the  throne.  France  at  this  time  was  France. 
much  distracted  by  two  rival  factions,  — the  houses  of  Orleans 
and  Burgundy,  — each  striving  to  exercise  control  in  the  king- 
dom during  the  insanity  of  the  king,  Charles  VI.,  and  the 
minority  of  his  son  the  Dauphin,  afterwards  Charles  VIL 

7.  Taking  advantage  of  these  disorders  in  France,  Henry 
decided  to  revive  his  claim  to  the  throne  of  that  kingdom. 
Having  hired,  from  Holland  and  other  countries,  a 
fleet  of  more  than  twelve  hundred  vessels,  he  set 
sail  with  an  army  of  thirty  thousand  men,  and  landed  at  Har- 
fleur, at  the  mouth  of  the  Seine,  which,  after  an  obstinate  resist- 
ance of  a  month,  was  compelled  to  surrender.     Henry  used  in 
this  attack  some  large  cannon,  called  "  bombards,"  which  he 
obtained  from  Germany,  with  officers  to  work  them,  and  which 
did  effectual  service.     An  old  writer  says  they  "  vomited  from 
their  fiery  mouths  vast  quantities  of  stones  with  a  vehement 
explosion  and  a  terrific  and  intolerable  noise."     Sickness  soon 
after  prevailed  to  such  an  extent  in  Henry's  army,  that  it  was 
reduced  to  about  ten  thousand,  or  one-third  of  the  number 
with  which  he  left  England. 

8.  Leaving  Harfleur,  Henry  marched  towards  Calais,  his  army 
being  terribly  harassed  and  annoyed  by  the  French 
for  nearly  a  fortnight,  until  an  engagement  took  ^-»°'=°"^- 
place  at  Agincourt  {Azhankoor)  in  October,  1415.    The  French 
army  numbered  sixty  thousand  ;  but,  notwithstanding  their  great 
superiority  in  numbers,  they  were  terribly  defeated,  leaving  dead 
upon  the  field  seven  princes  of  royal  blood,  a  hundred  nobles, 
eight  thousand  knights,  and  many  common  soldiers ;  makinj 
their  loss   eleven   thousand  killed,  besides  fourteen  thousand 
prisoners  taken  by  the  English.     Henry's  loss  was  small.     This 
was  a  memorable  battle,  and  was  fought  not  far  from  the  famous 
battlefield  of  Cressy.     The  first  musical  composition  in  English 


H 


HISTORY  OF  ENGLAND. 


[1422. 


'43»-3 


THE  BRANCH  OF  LANCASTER. 


ss 


was  made  in  coramemoration  of  this  battle.  It  was  written 
upon  vellum,  and  is  still  preserved  in  Cambridge  University. 
The  English  king  immediately  returned  to  London,  where  he 
was  received  with  great  display,  and  demonstrations  of  joy. 

g.  Henry  made  other  expeditions  to  France,  during  which 
he  overran  Normandy,  and  occupied  Caen  and  Rouen,  and  also 
Henry,  heir  held  his  court  at  Paris.  There  he  married  Cathe- 
of  France.  fine,  the  Priucess  of  France,  and  daughter  of  King 
Charles  VI.  By  a  treaty  with  the  queen,  the  king  being  insane, 
Henry  was  made  Regent  of  France,  and  declared  heir  to  the 
crown.  Two  years  afterward  (1422)  he  died  of  a  mysterious 
disease,  at  Vincennes ;  and  his  funeral  and  burial,  in  Westminster 
Abbey,  are  spoken  of  as  one  of  the  most  magnificent  occasions 
of  the  kind  recorded  in  history.  Tapers  were  kept  constantly 
burning  upon  his  tomb  for  more  than  a  century. 

10.  Henry  V.  was  one  of  the  most  heroic  of  the  English 
sovereigns,  eminent  as  a  warrior,  beloved  and  adored  by  mili- 
Henry'«  ^ary  men ;  and  his  short  reign  is  one  of  the  most 
character.  brilliant  in  English  history  for  military  achievement. 
But  his  conquests  were  .of  little  benefit  to  his  people.  Henry's 
widow  married  Owen  Tudor,  a  Welsh  chieftain,  from  whom  were 
descended  the  line  of  English  sovereigns  caUed  the  Tudor  family. 

11.  Henry  VI.  succeeded  to  the  throne  (1422)  when  an 
infant  only  nine  months  old,  and  was  proclaimed  king  both  of 
Henry's  England  and  France.  His  education  was  intrusted 
guardians.  to  Cardinal  Beaufort,  brother  of  his  grandfather, 
Henry  IV. ;  and  his  uncles,  the  Dukes  of  Bedford  and  Glouces- 
ter, were  appointed  protectors  or  guardians  of  his  dominions, 
—  the  former  for  France,  and  the  latter  for  England.  Charles 
VII.,  the  Dauphin  of  France,  being  supported  by  the  French 
people,  recovered  the  kingdom  by  degrees ;  and  the  English, 

being  compelled   by  that    extraordinary  heroine, 
Joan  of  Arc,  to  raise  the  siege"  of  Orleans,  were 

afterwards  stripped  of  all  their  conquests  in  that  country,  except 

Calais  and  Guienne  {Gheen). 


Joan  of  Arc. 


Joan  of  Arc. 


12.  During  these  successes  of  the  French,  Orieans  had  been 
besieged  by  the  English  several  months,  and  was  upon  the  point 
of  surrendering  for  the  want  of  food,  when  the  city 
was  saved  by  a  young  peasant-giri  from  Lorraine, 
called  Joan  of  Arc,  but  whose  real  name  was  Jeanne  Dare 
{Zhaun  Dark).    She  had  never  attended  school,  but  had  spent 
her  time  in  tending  her  father's  flocks,  and  in  solitary  musings 
upon  the  stories  and  lives  of  the  saints  and  martyrs.     She  was 
of  a  deeply  religious  nature,  and  declared  that  she  had  seen 
visions,  and  heard  voices,  urging  her  to  undertake  the  deliverance 
of  France.     Her  first  offer  of  her  services  was  rejected,  and 
she  was  thought  to  be  insane  or  a  sorceress ;  but,  having  gained 
an  audience  with  the  young  king,  she  succeeded  in  being  ap- 
pointed to  a  command.     Mounted  upon  a  snow-white  charger, 
she  rode  forth  at  the  head  of  ten  thousand  troops,  whom  she 
inspired  with  such  enthusiasm  and  courage,  that  they  routed  the 
English,  who  fled,  saying  it  was  useless  to  contend  with  a  witch. 
She  gained  some  other  victories,  and  accompanied  the  king  to 
Rheims,  and  assisted  in  his  coronation  there.   .  In  a  battle  at 
Compiegne  {Kom-pe-ain)  she  was  taken  prisoner  by  the  Duke 
of  Burgimdy,  and  sold  to  the  English,  who,  in  revenge  for  their 
loss  of  OHe'ans,  gave  her  up  to  a  court  of  French  ecclesiastics, 
to  be  tried  for  sorcery  and  magic.     After  a  trial  of  several 
months,  she  was  convicted,  and  burned  at  the  stake,  in  the 
market-place  at  Rouen,  in  May,  1431.     This  act  reflects  lasting 
disgrace  upon  the  French  and  the  English,  and  also  upon  the 
king  for  not  saving  her.    She  was  neither  bloodthirsty  nor  cruel, 
and  had  done  no  wrong,  but  had  achieved  success  by  her  en- 
thusiasm and  signal  courage.     She  is  often  called  the  Maid  of 
Orleans. 

13.  Henry,  on  coming  of  age,  proved  himself  to  be  mild  and 
inofl-ensive,  but  totally  incapable  of  managing  the   Margaret  of 
reins   of  government.      He   married    Margaret   of  Anjou. 
Anjou    (Anzhoo),  —  a    woman    whose    distinguished    talents, 
ambition,  and  heroism  well  fitted  her  to  supply  the  defects  of 


u 


HISTOID  Y  OF  ENGLAND. 


[^455 


11 


her  husband  in  the  wars  which  distracted  his  reign ;  but  her 
intriguing  disposition  and  cruelty  multiplied  the  number  of  her 
enemies.     Discontents  prevailing  among  the  people,  an  insur- 
rection broke  out,  headed  by  Jack  Cade,  who  assumed   the 
name   oi  John   Mortimer,  and   collected  an  army  of  twenty 
thousand  rebels;  but  he  was  defeated  and  slain.    The  Duke 
of  Gloucester,  a  favorite  of  the  nation,  the  chief  pillar  of  the 
house  of  Lancaster,  and  presumptive  heir  to  the  crown  (that 
is,  heir  in  case  the  king  should  die  without  issue),  had  opposed 
the  marriage  of  Henry  with  Margaret.     From  this  circumstance 
he  became  odious  to  the  queen,  and  his  death  soon  after  took 
place  in  a  suspicious  manner.     This  event,  added  to  the  imbe- 
cility of  the  king,  encouraged  the  Duke  of  York  to  assert  his 
claim  to  the  crown. 

14.  The  houses  of  York  and  Lancaster  were  both  descended 
from  Edward  III.,  — that  of  York  from  his  third  son,  and  that 
Wars  of  of  Lancaster  from  his  fourth.  The  rightful  title  was, 
the  Rose*.  ^f  course,  on  the  side  of  the  former.  Each  party 
was  distinguished  by  a  particular  badge,  or  symbol :  that  of  the 
h5use  of  York  was  a  white  rose,  and  that  of  Lancaster  a  red  one  : 
hence  the  civil  contests  were  styled  the  wars  of  the  Roses. 

This  fatal  quarrel,  which  now  (1455)  broke  out  into  open 
hostilities,  lasted  thirty  years,  was  signalized  by  twelve  sangui- 
nary pitched  battles,  and  marked  by  the  most  unrelenting  bar- 
barity. During  the  contest  more  than  one  hundred  thousand 
of  the  bravest  men  of  the  nation,  including  eighty  princes  of 
the  blood,  fell  on  the  field,  or  were  ^cecuted  on  the  scaffold. 
In  the  battles  of  St.  Alban's  and  Nortltampton  the  Lancastrians 
were  defeated,  and  the  king  was  taken  prisoner;  but  Queen 
Margaret,  having  collected  a  large  army,  gained  the  battle  of 
Wakefield  (1460),  in  which  the  Duke  oT  York  was  defeated 
and  slain.  But  his  son  and  successor,  at  the  head  of  a  numer- 
ous army,  entered  London  amidst  the  shouts  of  the  citizens, 
and  was  proclaimed  king  (1461)  by  the  title  of  Edward  IV.  n. 


\ 


Edward  IV. 


CHAPTER   IV. 

THE   BRANCH   OF   YORK. 
1461  to  1485,  —  24  years. 
Edward  V. 


Richard  in. 


THE  new  king,  Edward  IV.  (1461),  was  not  permitted 
to  enjoy  the  crown  in  peace.     The  heroic  Margaret  again 
collected  an   army  of  sixty  thousand   men,  which  Edward  iv. 
was  met  by  the  Yorkists  to  the  number  of  upwards  ^^^  Towton. 
of  forty  thousand,  under  the  command  of  Edward  and  the  Earl 
of  Warwick.      A   tre- 
mendous    batde    was 
fought  (1461)  at  Tow- 
ton,  in  which  Edward 
obtained     a     decisive 
victory;   and  upwards 
of  thirty-six   thousand 
Englishmen,   slain    by 
one    another's    hands, 
were  left  dead  on  the 
field.      Henry,  having 
been    taken    prisoner, 
was    confined    in    the 
Tower,  and  there  (after 
being  liberated,  and  a 
second    time     impris- 
oned) was  finally  mur- 
dered (1471),  as  was  supposed,  by  the  Duke  of  Gloucester, 
afterwards  Richard  III.  .  . 


THE  TOWER   OF   LONDON. 


♦  ■• 


87 


S8 


mSTORY  OF  ENGLAND. 


[1464. 


1483] 


THE  BRANCH  OF  YORK, 


89 


;* 


fiif 


2.  The  unfortunate  queen,  accompanied  by  her  son,  a  boy 
eight  years  old,  while  flying  from  her  enemies,  was  benighted  in 
The  queen  Hcxam  Forest,  and  fell  into  the  hands  of  ruffians, 
a  fugitive.  ^ho  stripped  her  of  her  jewels,  and  treated  her 
with  great  indignity.  After  she  was  liberated  from  them,  being 
overcome  with  fatigue  and  terror,  she  sank  in  despair,  but  was 
suddenly  roused  by  the  approach  of  a  robber  with  a  drawn 
sword.  Seeing  no  way  to  escape,  she  rose,  and  presented  to 
him  her  child  :  "  My  friend,"  said  she,  "  here  is  your  king's  son, 
whom  I  commit  to  your  protection."  The  man,  pleased  with 
this  unexpected  confidence  reposed  in  him,  afforded  every 
assistance  in  his  power,  and  conducted  the  mother  and  son 
through  numerous  perils  to  a  small  seaport,  whence  they  sailed 
to  Flanders. 

3.  The  house  of  York  had  been  hitherto  supported  by  the 
important  assistance  of  Nevil,  Eari  of  Warwick,  the  most  power- 
Eari  of  ful  baron  in  England,  and  the  greatest  general  of 
Warwick.  j^js  fjj^g  .  j^^^^  Edward  having  given  offence  to  his 
benefactor,  Warwick  was  induced  to  abandon  him,  and  to  sup- 
port the  Lancastrians.  By  his  exertions  Edward  was  deposed ; 
and  Henry,  after  having  been  a  prisoner  six  years  in  the  Tower, 
was  released,  and  again  proclaimed  king.  Thus  Warwick,  hav- 
ing restored  Henry  (whom  he  had  deposed)  and  pulled  down 
Edward  (whom  he  had  placed  on  the  throne),  obtained  the  title 
of  "  King- Maker."  But,  in  the  bloody  battle  of  Bamet,  Edward 
prevailed,  and  the  brave  Warwick  was  slain.  The  intrepid 
Margaret  Margaret,  having  returned  to  England,  made  a  last 
defeated.  ^^Qxi  for  the  crown  in  the  desperate  batde  of 
Tewksbury  (1471),  which  proved  fatal  to  her  hopes.  Her  son 
was  slain,  and  she  herself  was  taken  prisoner,  but  was  after- 
wards ransomed  by  the  King  of  France ;  and  in  that  country  she 
passed  the  remainder  of  her  life  in  obscurity  and  neglect. 

4.  Edward,  being  now  secured  on  the  throne,  gave  himself 
up  to  unrestrained  indulgence  in  acts  of  tyranny,  cruelty,  and 
debauchery.     His  brother,  the   Duke  of  Clarence,  who  had 


assisted  him  in  gaining  the  crown,  he  caused,  with  the  con- 
currence of  his  other  brother,  the  Duke  of  Gloucester,  to  be 
impeached  and  condemned ;  and  he  is  said  to  have 
been  drowned  in  a  butt  of  Malmsey  wine.     Edward  fv.'^s^char- 
was  possessed  of  talents,  and  was  reputed  the  hand-  """^^^  *"<* 
somest  and  most  accomplished  man  of  his  time  in   "°'^"''** 
England.     The  love  of  pleasure  was  his  ruling  passion.     "  His 
character,"  says  an  elegant  writer,  "  is  easily  summed  up :  his 
good  qualities  were  courage  and  beauty ;  his  bad  qualities,  every 
vice." 

5.  It  was  in  this  reign  that  the  art  of  printing  was  introduced 
into  England  by  William  Caxton,  a  London  merchant  and  a  fine 
scholar.  He  had  spent  several  years  abroad,  in  the 
service  of  the  government,  and  returned  from  Flan-  ^""**°fi^- 
ders  about  1474,  bringing  with  him  a  knowledge  of  the  new  art, 
which  had  been  discovered  in  Germany  more  than  thirty  years 
before.  He  set  up  a  printing-office  near  Westminster  Abbey 
(1477);  and  one  of  the  first  books  printed  was  a  translation 
from  the  French  called  the  "Game  and  Playe  of  the  Chesse." 

6.  Edward  IV.  left  two  sons,  the  eldest  of  whom,  being  only 
thirteen  years  of  age,  was  proclaimed  king  (1483)  by  the  title 
of  Edward  V.     Richard,  Duke  of  Gloucester,   ^^,^3,,  ,„ 
brother  to  Edward  IV.,  being  appointed  protector,  the  usurper!* 
caused  Lord  Hastings  and  other  distinguished  persons  to  be 
executed  without  trial,  seized  the  crown  on  the  pretence  that 
his  nephew  (Edward  V.)  and  his  brother  (the  Duke  of  York) 
were  illegitimate,  and  procured  himself  to  be  proclaimed  king 
(1483)  by  the  title  of  Richard  III.     After  two  months  the 
young  princes  disappeared,  and  are  said  to  have  been  smoth- 
ered in  the  Tower  by  order  of  Richard. 

7.  In  seeking  the  throne,  Richard  HI.  had  unscrupulously 
trampled  ftpon  the  rights  of  the  people,  and  had  probably  shed 
the  blood  of  some  of  his  nearest  relations.     But  his  Battle  of 
wicked  career  found   an   avenger  in  the  Eari  of  Bosworth. 
Richmond,  the  only  surviving  heir  of  the  house  of  Lancaster. 


90 


HISTORY  OF  ENGLAND. 


[1485. 


The  armies  of  the  two  rivals  met  at  Bosworth  in  Leicestershire, 
in  the  central  part  of  England  (1485),  where  a  desperate  battle 
was  fought,  which,  by  reason  of  Lord  Stanley's  going  over  to 
Richmond,  proved  fatal  to  Richard,  who  was  defeated  and 
slain ;  and  his  rival  was  crowned  on  the  field  by  the  title  of 
Henry  VII. 

8.  Richard,  who  was  a  man  of  talents  and  courage,  couUl 
conceal  the  most  bloody  projects  under  the  mask  of  affection 
and  friendship ;  and  his  insatiable  ambition  led  him 
HL-Tchar-  to  perpetrate  the  most  atrocious  crimes.  He  was 
acter  and  somcwhat  deformed  in  person,  but  could  be  affable 
**^*''  in  manners  when  it  suited  his  purpose.     His  sole 

ambition  was  to  be  king  of  England ;  and  to  the  accomplish- 
ment of  that  end  he  sacrificed  principle  and  friends,  or  whatever 
stood  in  his  way.  But  some  of  his  acts  were  beneficial.  He 
rewarded  those  friends  who  were  faithful  to  him,  and  restored  ' 
to  their  owners  many  confiscated  estates.  Trade  and  commerce 
were  encouraged  by  him,  and  he  established  a  kind  of  post 
system  by  regular  couriers  for  the  transmission  of  information. 

g.  The  battle  of  Bosworth  terminated  the  long  and  bloody 

conflicts  between  the  two  houses  of  York  and  Lancaster,  which 

,     had  reduced  the   kingdom   to  a   state  of  almost 

Influence  of  ,       .  ,  i  %     ■ 

thewmraof  savage  barbarity;  laws,  arts,  and  commerce  bemg 
the  Rotea.  entirely  neglected  for  the  practice  of  arms.  During 
these  wars  constitutional  liberty  received  a  severe  check,  and 
the  whole  course  of  civilization  was  turned  backward.  But  out 
of  much  evil  some  good  was  derived.  The  power  of  the 
ancient  nobility  was  gone  forever;  for,  during  the  long  and 
bloody  wars,  the  greater  part  of  the  nobles  perished,  and  feu- 
dalism almost  disappeared. 

10.  But  the  wars  of  the  Roses  were  not  fought  in  the  interests 
of  the  people :  they  were  the  melancholy  result  of  most  bitter 
The  wars  and  ^nd  malignant  feuds  among  rival  families  of  the 
the  people.  nobility.  And  as  these  wars  wer|j^carried  on  prin- 
cipally by  and  for  the  nobility,  so  their  immediate  effects  fell  at 


1485.] 


THE  BRANCH  OF  YORK, 


91 


first  more  directly  upon  that  class  than  upon  the  common  people 
at  large  and  the  industrial  classes.  But  the  long  continuance 
of  the  wars,  and  the  almost  exclusive  devotion  to  arms  by  those 
who  ought  to  have  been  leaders  in  good  government  and  in 
business,  finally  involved  the  whole  nation  in  consequences  most 
disastrous  to  the  welfare  of  the  people  and  to  the  progress  of 
freedom. 

II.  It  is  difficult  to  find  in  the  annals  of  the  past  a  sadder 
and  more  disgusting  chapter  of  history  than  that  which  details 
the  wars  between  the  houses  of  York  and  Lancaster,   character  of 
The  conduct  of  these  wars  was  "everywhere  savage  the  war"  ° 
and  brutal,  and  was  destitute  of  that  spirit  of  chivalry  which 
had  before  been  characteristic  of  the  English  people.    The  most 
wanton  exhibitions  of  revenge  were  common  on  all  sides,  and 
often  resulted  in  the  execution  of  personal  enemies  in  the  most 
mhuman  and  disgraceful  manner.     Patriotism  did  not  actuate 
either  party,  nor  characterize  their  conduct  in  the  wars.    Selfish- 
ness and  revenge  seemed  to  be  the  leading  motives ;  and  the 
most  unblushing  treason  went  unrebuked,  and  was  often  at  a 
premium.     The  nobler  traits  of  human  character  seemed  to  be 
extinguished  or  repressed,  and  the  baser  passions  reigned  tri- 
umphant.    But  for  all  this  suffering  and  shame,  the  nation  has 
nought  to  show  that  redounds  to  its  credit. 

12.  The  serfs  and  the  lower  orders  of  the  people  served  in 
the  wars  of  the  Roses ;  and  they  could  never  after-  The  serfs 
wards  be  reduced  to  their  former  state  of  servitude,  &c.    "  *' 
but  enjoyed  greater  privileges,  living  in  better  houses,  and  havin- 
more  of  the  comforts  of  life. 

13.  Several  new  institutions  of  learning  were  founded  during 
these  reigns,  —  King's  and  Queen's  Colleges  in  Cambridi,-e 
(1441-48),  and  Magdalen  College  (1457)  at  Ox-  ^ewcoi 
ford,  three  of  the  finest  specimens  of  Gothic  archi-  leges. 
tecture  in  existence.  Eton  College,  near  Windsor,  a  preparatory 
school  for  the  sons  of  the  nobility,  was  founded  in  1440;  and 
the  Bodleian  Library  at  Oxford  was  erected  in  1445-80. 


SYNOPSIS  FOR  REVIEW, 


93 


i,.f 


SYNOPSIS  FOR  REVIEW. 

PART  II.  — FEUDAL  PERIOD  (pp.  45-90- 

I.  —  The  Norman  Family. 

William  X  His  coronation.  State  of  the  kingdom.  His 
policy.  Absence.  Exeter  and  York.  Revolts.  The  Danes. 
Disaster  at  York.  Devastation  of  the  country.  Cruelty. 
Chester.  Ely.  Family  troubles.  New  Forest.  Doomsday 
book.  Feudal  System.  William  and  the  Church.  Odo. 
Battle  Abbey.     William's  last  days,  funeral,  and  character. 

'William  IL     His  character,  reign,  and  death. 

Henry  I.    Norman  and  Saxon  families  united.    Character. 

Stephen.  Accession  and  reign.  Wars.  Social  distress. 
Character. 

II.  — The  Plantagenet  Family. 

Henry  IL  His  dominions.  Church  and  State.  Councils  of 
Clarendon.  Th«mas  i  Becket.  Family  troubles.  Henry's 
character.    The  arts?    The  comforts  of  life. 

Richard  L  and  the  Crusades.    His  character. 

John.  Quarrel  with  the  Pope.  Magna  Charta.  John's 
character. 

Henry  UL    His  reign  and  character.     Popular  freedom. 

Leicester. 

Edward  I.  The  Jews.  Wales.  War  with  Scotland.  Wal- 
lace and  Bruce.    Edward's  character  and  reign. 

Edward  IL  Bannockburn.  Character  and  reign.  Isabella 
and  Mortimer. 

Edward  UL  Mortimer.  War  with  the  Scots  and  France. 
Cressy.  The  Black  Prince.  Philippa.  Poictiers.  Posses- 
sions lost.  Edward's  character  and  reign.  Dukes.  Pesti- 
lence.   The  English  language. 

Richard  H.  His  regents.  Wat  Tyler.  War  with  Scotland 
and  France.  The  king  deposed.  Wickliffe  and  Chaucer. 
Progress.    Castles.    The  barons.    The  clergy.    Cathedrals. 

02 


Church  revenues.  Friars.  Miracle  Plays.  House  of  Com- 
mons. Education.  Roger  Bacon.  Alchemy,  &c.  Lan- 
guage. Tournaments  and  chivalry.  Trade  and  Commerce. 
Agriculture.    Dwellings.     Food.    Dress.     Villenage. 

III.— -Branch  of  Lancaster. 

Henry  IV.    A  usurper  and  persecutor.    Character  and  reign. 

Prince  Henry. 
Henry  V.    His  reform.    Oldcastle.    France  invaded.    Har- 

fleur.   Agincourt.    Henry's  character.    Origin  of  the  Tudors. 
Henry  VI,     His  guardians.     Joan  of  Arc     Margaret  of 

Anjou.     War  of  the  Roses. 

IV.  —  Branch  of  York. 

Edward  IV.    Towton.    The  queen  a  fugitive.     Warwick. 

Defeat  of  Margaret.    Edward's  character  and  conduct    Art 

of  printing. 
Edward  V.    His  fate. 
Richard  HI    A   usurper.    His  character  and  acts.    Bos- 

wofth.    Wars  of  the  Roses.    Their  character  and  influence. 

The  serfs.    New  colleges. 


CHRONOLOGICAL    TABLE, 


95 


A.D. 

1 100.   89.      Richard  I. 


CHRONOLOGICAL  TABLE 

OF   ENGLISH   AND  LEADING  CONTEMPORANEOUS   SOVEREIGNS  AND 

IMPORTANT  EVENTS, 

From  the  Norman  Family  to  the  Tudor  Family. 


A.D. 
1000.    66.  William  I.  — Henry  rv.,  Germany,  56.    Pope  Greg- 

oryVIL  (IIildebrand),73.  Malcolm 
m.,  Scotland,  57.  Booksellers  first 
known.  Surnames  first  used  by  nobil- 
ity. Tower  of  London  built,  80.  Papal 
power  very  great. 

87.  William  II.  — Pope  Urban  IX,  Duncan  H,  Scotland. 

First  Crusade,  96.  Jerusalem  taken  by 
the  Crusaders,  99. 

1100.  Henry  L— Alexander    1,   David    L,    Scotland. 

Henry  IV.,  Germany,  died,  1106. 
Knights  Templar  instituted.  Writing- 
paper  used. 

35"        Stephen.  — Conrad   m,   Germany,   38.     Moscow 

built,  44.  Second  Crusade,  47.  Mag- 
netic needle  known  in  Italy. 

54.     Henry  IL  —  Prederick  Barbarosaa.,  Germany,  52. 

Malcolm    IV.,    53.     William,    65. 

Scotland.  Szdadin.  Genghis  Khan,  76. 

Bank  of  Venice  founded,  57.    Bills  of 

exchange  used. 
94 


Pope  Clement  IIL,  Henry  VL  (the 
Cruel),  Germany.  Philip  Augus- 
us,  France.  Papal  power  supreme. 
Third  Crusade,  88.  Richard  defeats 
Saladin  at  Ascalon,  92.  Jews  the 
principal  bankers  of  the  world. 

gg.  John.  — Pope   innocent   HI.     Otho   IV., 

Germany.  Fourth  Crusade.  Afghan 
Empire  founded.  The  Troubadours. 
Jerusalem  taken  by  the  Turks. 

1200.    16.      Henry  III.  — Alexander  11  and  IIL,  Scotland. 

Louis  IX.  (St.  Louis),  France.  Coal 
discovered,  37.  Astronomy  and  geog- 
raphy revived  by  the  Moors. 

72.        Edward  I.  — John  BaUol,  Scotland,  92.     Philip 

IV.,  France,  85.  Marco  Polo  travels 
in  the  East.  Parliaments  at  Paris, 
94.  Spectacles  invented,  99.  Otto- 
man Empire  founded,  99.  Mariner's 
compass  invented,  1302. 

1300.      7.      Edward   II.  —  Seat  of  the  Papacy  removed  to  Avignon, 

8.  William  Tell.  Dante  died,  21. 
Swiss  confederation  established,  7. 
Knights  Templar  suppressed,  12. 

27.  Edward  III.— Philip   VI.,    28;    Charles   V,    64. 

France.   Pope  Innocent  VI.  Two 

hundred    thousand     Moors     invade 

Spain.     Fire-arms,  45.     Gunpowder 

invented  at  Cologne,  40.     Turks  first 

enter    Rome,    52.     Tamerlane,  7a 

Great  Plague  in  Europe,  47. 

77.     Richard  II.  -^  Popes  return  to  Rome.    Charles  VL, 

France,  80. 

gg.  Henry  IV.  — Solyman,  Turkey.  The  Medici  su- 
preme in  Florence.  Canary  Islands 
discovered,  5. 

1400.    13.  Henry  V.  —  Sigismund,  Germany.     Paris  taken  by 

the  English,  20.    Madeira  discovered. 


96 


HISTORY  OF  ENGLAND. 


A.D. 
1400.    22,      Henry  VI.— Charles  Vn.,  France.   James  I.  and 

Un  Scotland.  Joan  of  Arc  The 
Azores  discovered,  32.  Invention  of 
printing,  36.  Famine  and  plague  in 
Paris,  38.  Vatican  Library  founded, 
46.     Wood-engraving. 

61.  Edward  IV.— Louis  XI^  France.    End  of  Tartar  rule 

in  Russia.  Watches  made  at  Nurem- 
berg, 77.    Copernicus  born,  73. 

83.      Edward  V.  —  Charles  Vm,  France.    Pope  Inno- 
cent VIII. 

83.   Richard  III.  —  Luther  born.     iEsop's  Fables  printed 

by  Caxton.  Cape  of  Good  Hope 
discovered,  86. 


PART  III. 

MODERN    ENGLAND. 

FROM  THE  REIGN  OF  HENRY  VIL  (1485)  TO  THE  PRESENT 

TIME. 


CHAPTER   I. 

THE   TUDOR   FAMILY. 

1485  to  1603,  —  "8  years. 

Henry  VII.         Henry  VIII.         Edward  VI.         Mary.  Elizabeth. 

THE  hereditary  right  of  Henry  VII.  (1485)  to  the 
crown  was  very  defective  ;  but  he  strengthened  his  claim 
by  marrying  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Edward  IV.;  Henry  vil-s 
and  in  this  way  the  two  houses  of  York  and  Lan-  *^"^ 
caster  were  united.  Henry  was  the  son  of  Margaret  (great- 
grand-daughter  of  John  of  Gaunt)  and  of  Edmond  Tudor. 
■  The  sovereigns  of  the  house  of  Tudor  were  arbitrary  in  their 
principles  and  character ;  but  their  reign,  though  disturbed  by 
conflicts  both  domestic  and  foreign,  was,  notwithstanding,  less 
convulsed  by  war  than  that  of  any  other  family  of  English 
kings. 

2.  The  policy  of  Henry  was  pacific,  and  his  reign  was  com- 
paratively tranquil ;  yet  it  was  disturbed  by  several  plots  and 
conspiracies,  two  of  which  were  of  a  singular  char-   Two  pre- 
acter.     One  of  these  was  the  attempt  of  Lambert  tenders. 
^!!!^^'  ^^  ^°"  °^  ^  ^^^^'  ^^  counterfeit  the  person  of  tlic 

97 


i 


9^ 


HISTORY  OF  ENGLAND. 


[14^5. 


1492.J 


THE   TUDOR  FAMILY, 


99 


Earl  of  Warwick :  the  other  was  a  similar  attempt  of  Perkin 
Warbeck  to  counterfeit  the  Duke  of  York,  who  is  said  to  have 
been  smothered  in  the  Tower  by  the  order  of  Richard  III. 
Both  of  the  adventurers  aspired  to  the  crown,  and  met  with 
considerable  support  from  the  people.  Simnel,  after  being  pro- 
claimed King  of  England  and  Ireland  at  Dublin,  was  taken 
prisoner,  and,  instead  of  being  executed,  was  made  a  scullion 
in  the  king's  kitchen,  and  afterwards  promoted  to  be  falconer. 
Perkin  Warbeck,  who  maintained  his  cause"  by  force  of  arms  for 
five  years,  was  supported  by  many  of  the  nobility,  and  acknowl- 
edged by  the  kings  of  France  and  Scotland ;  but,  being  at  last 
taken  prisoner,  he  was  executed  as  a  traitor.  And,  near  the 
same  time,  the  real  Eari  of  Warwick  (the  son  of  the  Duke  of 
Clareuce,  and  nephew  of  Edward  IV.),  the  last  male  of  the 
Plantagenets,  who  had  been  imprisoned  from  his  childhood  for 
no  other  crime  than  his  birth,  was  condemned  and  executed  on 
a  charge  of  treason. 

3.  Henry  VII.  was  more  deficient  in  the  feelings  of  the  heart 
than  in  the  qualities  of  the  mind,  and,  though  much  respected, 
Henry  vii.'s  was  little  beloved.  He  is  described  as  a  tall,  thin 
character.  man,  with  a  very  grave  countenance,  and  reserved 
in  his  manners.  He  manifested  no  interest  in  public  amuse- 
ments, but  was  wholly  devoted  to  business,  which  he  conducted 
with  much  prudence  and  sagacity.  But  he  was  suspicious  in 
his  temper,  and  in  government  very  despotic.  The  love  of 
money  was  his  ruling  passion ;  and  his  avaricious  disposition 
showed  itself  in  all  his  acts,  public  and  private.  To  obtain 
money  for  his  own  treasury,  he  often  descended  to  acts  of 
meanness  and  extortion.  Richard  Empson  and  Edmund  Dud- 
ley, two  lawyers,  were  his  unprincipled  agents  in  this  work  of 
rapacity  and  oppression.  They  looked  up  old  and  obsolete 
laws,  by  which  they  contrived  to  impose  enormous  fines,  and  to 
decree  the  forfeiture  of  much  property,  and  many  estates  and 
privileges,  which  could  be  redeemed  only  by  paying  the  most 
exorbitant  sums  of  money.     By  his  frugality  and  arbitrary  exac- 


tions Henry  accumulated  immense  wealth,  and  is  said  to  have 
left  at  his  death,  in  ready  money,  the  sum  of  one  million  eight 
hundred  thousand  pounds,  —  an  enormous  amount  of  specie 
for  that  age,  equivalent  to  ten  million  pounds,  or,  according  to 
some,  to  sixteen  million  pounds,  at  present. 

4.  His  reign  was  prosperous  at  home,  and  respected  abroad ; 
and,  though  not  a  popular  sovereign,  he  was,  perhaps,  next  to 
Alfred,  the  most  useful  prince  that  had  hitherto  sat  His  reign 
on  the  throne  of  England.    Many  wise  and  salutary  "sefui. 
laws  were  enacted  during  his  reign,  habits  of  industry  were 
promoted  in  business  and  in  all  the  affairs  of  life,  and  commerce 
was  greatly  encouraged.     His  fondness  for  money  prevented 
him  from  expending  it  in  unnecessary  wars,  and  hence  he  taught 
the  peaceful  arts  of  civilized  life  to  a  warlike  and  turbulent 
people.     The  most  troublesome  class  with  whom  he  had  to 
contend  was  the  aristocracy  who  had  survived  the  wars  of  the 
Roses,  and  who  were  fractious  and  insolent.     But  he  succeeded 
in  reducing  them  to  subordination;   and,  by  permitting  the 
nobles  to  alienate  their  lands,  he  weakened  their  power,  raised 
the  respectability  of  the  lower  orders,  and  gave  a  mortal  wound 
to  the  feudal  system.     He  expended  fourteen  thousand  pounds 
in  building  .one  ship,  named  "  The  Great  Harry,"  which  may 
be  considered  as  the  beginning  of  the  English  navy,  inasmuch 
as  the  government,  before  this  period,  had  no  other  mode  of 
raising  a  fleet  than  by  hiring  or  pressing  the  vessels  of  merchants. 

5.  It  was  during  the  reign  of  Henry  VII.  (1492)  that  America 
was  discovered  by  Columbus,  under  the  patronage  of  Isabella, 
Queen  of  Spain.     This  event  gave  a  great  impulse  spirit  of  ad- 
to   the   spirit   of   maritime   adventure    throughout  venture. 
Western  Europe,  and  eventually  contributed  much  to  the  im- 
provement of  trade  and  commerce.     Under  a  commission  from 
Henry,  John  Cabot,  a  Venetian  residing  at  Bristol,  with  his  son 
Sebastian,  made  a  voyage  to  the  New  World  (1497),  and  dis- 
covered the  coast  of  North  America  from  Labrador  southward. 
The  Cabots  received  no  assistance  from  Henry,  except  their 


lOO 


HISTORY  OF  ENGLAND. 


[1509. 


I* 

■  \ 


I 


f- 


charter,  but  promised  to  give  him  one-fifth  of  the  profits  of  the 
adventure.  This  was  the  origin  of  the  English  claim  to  a  portion 
of  the  New  World.  Sebastian  Cabot  published  the  first  map  of 
the  world  which  included  both  hemispheres.  Maps  and  sea- 
charts  now  became  common  in  England.  Great  interest  was 
manifested  in  new  discoveries,  and  the  study  of  geography 
received  much  attention. 

6.  There  was  also,  during  this  period,  a  remafkable  revival 
of  learning,  which  had  been  neglected  and  in  low  repute  during 
Revival  of  ^^^  ^^^^s  of  the  Roscs.  This  was  brought  about 
learning.  in  large  measure  by  the  introduction  of  printing. 
Hitherto  books  had  been  made  only  by  the  slow,  laborious,  and 
costly  process  of  transcribing  by  hand.  About  the  year  1400, 
when  the  pay  of  a  laborer  was  but  a  penny  or  two,  a  book  of 
homilies  cost  from  ten  to  forty  pounds.  But  the  art  of  printing 
rapidly  increased  the  number  of  books,  and  lessened  their  cost, 
and  caused  a  general  dissemination  of  information.  In  the 
reign  of  Richard  III.  the  laws  which  were  to  be  obeyed  by  the 
English  people  were  for  the  first  time  enacted  in  the  English 
language,  and  these  laws  were  also  the  first  laws  printed  in 
England. 

7.  The  Star  Chamber  Court  was  instituted  by  Henry  VII., 
so  called  from  the  gilded  stars  on  the  ceiling  of  the  room  in 
Star  Cham-  Westminster  Palace  where  it  met.  It  was  composed 
>>«r«  of  seven  members,  was  entirely  under  the  control 
of  the  king,  and  had  charge,  without  jury,  of  high  crimes  and 
misdemeanors  against  the  government  and  the  administration 
of  justice.     In  later  years  it  became  tyrannical  and  odious. 

8.  Henry's  son  Arthur  married  Catherine  of  Aragon,  daugh- 
House  of  t^r  of  Ferdinand  and  Isabella  of  Spain ;  and  his 
Stuart.  daughter  Margaret  became  the  wife  of  James 
(Stuart)  IV.  of  Scotland,  from  whom  descended  the  house  of 
Stuart. 

g.  Henry  died  of  consumption,  in  1509,  and  was  buried  in 
the  Chapel  of  Henry  VII.,  so  called,  which  he  had  built  as  a 


«509-] 


THE   TUDOR  FAMILY. 


lOl 


considerable  addition  to  the  east  end  of  Westminster  Abbey.     It 
is  very  elaborately  finished  in  the  style  called  Per-   Henry's 
pendicular  Gothic,  and  is  probably  one  of  the  best  death, 
specimens  of  Tudor  architecture  in  existence. 

10.  No  monarch  ever  succeeded  to  the  throne  of  England 
with  brighter  prospects  than  Henry  VIII.  (1509).     Uniting 
in  his  person  .the  claims  of  the  two  houses  of  York  Prospects  of 
and  Lancaster,  his  title  was  undisputed.    The  treas-   Henry  viii. 
ury  was  well  stored,  the  nation  at  peace,  and  the  state  of  the 
country  prosperous.     He  was  eighteen  years  of  age,  and  of 
beautiful  person  and  accomplished   manners.     He   possessed 
fine  talents  and  considerable  learning,  being  master  of  four 
languages,  a  good  student  in  theology,  of  a  fine  musical  taste, 
and  familiar  with  the  sciences  of  medicine,  engineering,  and 
ship-building.     In  his  disposition  he  was  frank  and  open,  and 
was  regarded  by  the  people  with  affection  and  high  expectations. 
But   these   expectations   were   wofully   disappointed.     As   the 
character  of  the  king  developed  itself,  he  was  found  to  be 
destitute  both  of  wisdom  and  virtue ;  and  he  proved  himself  to 
be  unprincipled  and  cruel.     Like  his  father,  he  was  immoder- 
ately fond  of  getting  money ;  but,  unlike  him,  he  spent  it  with 
a  prodigal  hand.     In  his  friendships  he  was  fickle,  and  in  his  ' 
resentments  merciless ;  and  he  was  capable  of  sending  a  min- 
ister or  a  wife  to  the  scaffold  with  apparently  little  feeling  of 
compunction. 

II.  With  the  aristocracy  his  government  was  but  little  short 
of  despotism ;  but,  when  dealing  with  the  great  mass  of  the 
people,  he  was  sometimes  compelled  to  yield  to  the  popular 
will.  In  general,  however,  there  was  a  degrading  servility  of 
the  people  and  Parliament  in  tamely  submitting  to  his  tyranny, 
or  becoming  the  passive  instruments  of  its  exercise.  He  chose 
for  his  ministers  men  of  eminent  talents,  but  he  made  them 
feel  the  effects  of  his  caprice  and  cruelty.  Archbishop  Cranmer 
was  the  only  one  of  great  distinction  among  them  who  had  the 
Kood  fortune  to  retain  to  the  last  his  confidence  and  regard. 


I 


102 


HISTORY  OF  ENGLAND, 


[»5i3- 


1529.] 


THE   TUDOR  FAMILY, 


103 


W 


Foreign 
war. 


12.  By  his  profusion  and  expensive  pleasures  he  Soon  ex- 
hausted the    treasures  which   he    inherited  from   his  father. 

Though  his  military  operations  were  not  numerous, 
yet  in  the  early  part  of  his  reign  he  maBe  war 
against  Louis  XII.  of  France,  invaded  the  country,  and  at 
Guinegate  gained  the  battle  of  the  Spurs,  so  named  from  the 
rapid  flight  of  the  French.  The  Scots  sympathized  with  the 
Fiodden  French ;  and,  having  invaded  England,  their  army 
Field.  was  met  by  the  English,  under  the  Earl  of  Surrey, 

at  Fiodden  Field,  near  the  Cheviot  Hills.  A  desperate  engage- 
ment ensued  (15 13),  in  which  the  Scots  were  utterly  defeated; 
their  king,  James  IV.,  and  more  than  ten  thousand  knights, 
being  slain.  Henry  was  also,  in  some  degree,  involved  in  the 
wars  of  the  two  great  rivals  of  the  age,  —  Charles  V.  of  Ger- 
many, and  Francis  I.  of  France.  In  1520  Henry  visited  France 
for  a  conference  with  the  French  king  in  regard  to  an  alliance 
against  Germany.  They  met  near  Guines  (G/ieen),  not  far 
from  Calais ;  and  so  gorgeous  and  costly  were  the  preparations 
made  by  both  courts,  that  the  place  of  meeting  was  called  the 
"  Field  of  the  Cloth  of  Gold."  Interviews  and  entertainments 
were  continued  more  than  two  weeks  ;  but  Henry  was  already 
favorably  disposed  towards  the  German  emperor,  and  no  alli- 
ance was  formed. 

13.  During  this  reign,  an  important  change  took  place  in  the 
Church  in  England,  in  its  relations  to  the  central  ecclesiastical 
TheRefor.  authorities  at  Rome,  and  afterwards  in  its  faith 
matioa.  and  doctrine.  Some  years  before,  a  movement  was 
started  upon  the  Continent  which  resulted  in  dividing  the 
Catholic  Church  into  two  sections,  from  one  of  which  sprang, 
at  different  times,  the  various  organizations  embraced  under  the 
general  name  of  "  Protestants."  It  was  at  first  a  religious  and 
ecclesiastical  movement,  in  whose  discussions  were  prominent 
such  subjects  as  the  sale  of  indulgences,  the  nature  and  rule  of 
faith,  good  works,  the  rights  of  conscience  and  private  judgment, 
and  the  Bible  as  the  rule  of  faith  and  practice.    But  afterwards 


the  movement  assumed  also  a  political  and  social  character,  and 
engrossed  the  attention  of  a  large  portion  of  Europe,  and  mate- 
rially affected  the  whole  framework  of  society  and  its  institutions. 
This  is  called  in  history  the  great  Reformation.  The  term 
"  Protestants  "  was  derived  from  a  protest  made  by  some  Ger- 
man princes  and  deputies  against  a  decree  of  the  Diet  of  Spires, 
about  1529,  to  support  the  Church  of  Rome.  The  leader  of  the 
Reformation  in  Germany  was  Martin  Luther. 

Before  he  arrived  at  the  age  of  thirty,  Henry  wrote  a  book, 
in  Latin,  on  the  Seven  Sacraments,  against  Luther,  which  pleased 
the  Pope  so  much,  that  he  conferred  on  him  the  title  of  "  De- 
fender of  the  Faith," — a  title  which  his  successors  have  ever 
since  retained. 

mi: 

14.  The  most  important  public  character  in  England  at  this 
time  was  Thomas  VVolsey  i^lVool' -ze) ,  a  fine  scholar,  an  able 
statesman,  and  a  man  of  magnificent  and  courtly  cardinal 
bearing.  He  held  successively  the  offices  of  bishop,  Woisey. 
archbishop,  cardinal,  lord-chancellor,  and  papal  legate.  His 
style  of  living  was  princely  in  the  extreme.  He  was  clad  in 
silks  and  satins  of  scarlet  or  crimson,  with  gloves  and  hat  of  the 
same  colors,  and  shoes  inlaid  with  pearls  and  diamonds.  His 
train  was  composed  of  eight  hundred  persons,  with  a  body- 
guard of  knights  and  squires  ;  while  his  domestic  servants  were 
richly  clad,  his  cook  wearing  silks  and  satins,  and  a  gold  chain 
around  his  neck.  When  he  appeared  in  public,  he  equalled, 
in  display  and  ceremony,  royalty  itself.  Woisey  was  the  prime 
mover  in  all  the  principal  events  of  Henry's  reign  for  more  than 
fifteen  years,  and  on  one  or  two  occasions  was  a  prominent 
candidate  for  the  papal  chair.  He  built  a  splendid  palace,  still 
in  existence,-  at  Hampton  Court,  near  London,  which  he  pre- 
sented to  his  royal  master. 

15.  But  the  most  memorable  transactions  of  Henry's  reign 
were  his  matrimonial  alliances  and  the  consequences   Matrimonial 
which  flowed  from  them.     His  first  wife  was  Cath-  troubles, 
erine  of  Aragon,  widow  of  his  elder  brother  Arthur,  daughter 


///STO£V  OF  ENGLAND. 


bVA- 


>547] 


THE   TUDOR  FAMILY. 


105 


I 


u 


[If 


of  Fertlinand  of  Spain,  and  aunt  of  Charles  V.     He  had  been 
contractt'tl  to  her  at  a  very  early  age  by  the  influence  of  his 
father ;  and,  after  having  lived  with  her  about  eighteen  years, 
he  professed  to  feel  conscientious  scruples  respecting  the  law- 
fulness of  the  marriage,  on  account  of  her  having  been  the  wife 
of  his  brother ;  and,  conceiving  a  passion  for  the  beautiful  and 
accomplished  Anne  Boleyn   {An  Bul'-en),  he  applied  to  the 
Pope  for  a  divorce.     Having  experienced  various  delays,  and 
imagining  that  his  favorite  minister,  Cardinal  Wolsey,  was  the 
chief  obstacle  in  the  way  of  eflecting  his  ol)ject,  the  king  resolved 
on  his  ruin,  and  ordered  him  to  be  arrested  for  high  treason. 
But  the  haughty  cardinal  soon  after  fell  sick  and  died,  having 
exclaimed,  in  the  pangs  of  remorse,  "  Had  I  but  sened  God 
as  diligently  as  I  have  served  the  king,  he  would  not  have  given 

More.  "^^  *^^'^^  '"  "^y  S^>'  ^^''''^■"    ^Volsey  was  succeeded 

by  Sir  Thomas  More,  a  distinguished  scholar  and 
public  man,  who  was  the  author  of  a  book  in  Latin  called 
"  Utopia,"  in  which  he  describes  an  imaginary  commonwealth 
in  an  island  of  that  name. 

ITie  opinions  of  various  universities  favorable   to  Henry's 
views  having  been  obtained,  and  the  Pope  failing  to  grant  the 
Quarrel  with   divorce,  the  king  caused  a  court  to  be  held  under 
the  Papacy.     Cranmcr,  which  pronounced  his  marriage  invalid  ; 
and  I^dy  Anne  was  soon  after  crowned  queen.     The  papal 
jurisdiction  in  England  was  immediately  abolished  (1534),  some 
alterations  made  in  the  doctrines  and  forms  of  religion,  and  the 
king  was  declared  tlie  supreme  head  of  the  English  Church. 
Thomas  Cromwell  {Kriim'-wel),  his  prime-minister,  and  after- 
wards the  Earl  of  Essex,  was  appointed  vicar-general  of  the 
Church.     He  was  favorable  to  the  reformers,  and  was  instru- 
mental in  the  suppression  of  many  monasteries  and  religious 
houses,  from  whose  treasuries  and  lands  large  ^  sums  of  money 
were  realized. 

16.  This  l)old  measure  greatly  aided  the  reformation  in  reli- 
#    gion ;   but  such  a  result  was  probal)ly  no  part  of  the  kiog*s 


intention.  Though  Henry  ceased  to  acknowledge  allegiance 
to  the  Church  of  Rome,  he  was  far  from  being  a  a  perse- 
Protestant.  He  arrogated  infallibility  to  himself,  cutor. 
and  caused  the  law  of  the  Six  Articles  of  religion,  termed  the 
"  Bloody  Statute,"  to  be  enacted,  and  condemned  to  death  both 
Catholics  and  Protestants  who  ventured  to  maintain  opinions 
in  opposition  to  his  own.  The  venerable  Bishop  Fisher  and 
Sir  Thomas  More,  two  conscientious  Catholics,  were  beheaded 
for  refusing  to  acknowledge  his  supremacy  and  the  validity  of 
his  marriage  with  Anne  Boleyn.     In  less  than  three  „ 

-.       ,  .  .  More  matri- 

years  after  his  new  marriage  he  caused  Anne  Boleyn   moniai 
to  be  condemned  and  beheaded,  in  order  to  gratify  *''°"bJ"- 
a  new  passion  for  Jane  Seymour,  whom  he  married  the  day  after 
the  execution,  and  who  died  soon  after  giving  birth  to  Prince 
Edward.     He  next  married  Anne  of  Cleves,  but  soon  discarded 
her  because  he  did  not  find  her  so  handsome  as  she  had  been 
represented;   and  Cromwell,  his  prime-minister,  having  been 
instrumental  in  bringing  about  this  joyless  marriage,  lost  the 
fiivor  of  his  sovereign,  and  suffered   death   on   the    scaffold. 
Catherine  Howard,  whom  he  next  married,  was  condemned  and 
executed  for  adultery.     But  Catherine  Pdrr,  his  sixth  wife,  had 
the  good  fortune  to  survive  him.     During  the  latter  part  of  his 
life  Henry  became  quite  infirm  and  gross.     He  died  in  1547, 
aged  fifty-six  years. 

17.  Some  recent  historians  take  a  view  of  Henry's  life  and 
character  more  favorable  than  that  entertained  by  the  enemies 
of  the  Tudor  family.    It  is  thought  that  the  circum-   Henry  in 
stances  of  the  age,  in  which  this  sovereign  lived,   history, 
should  mitigate  somewhat  the  severity  with  which  he  has  been 
judged. 

18.  Henry's  reign  was  one  of  considerable  activity,  during 
which  events  took  place  that  were  important,  and  far-reaching 
in  their  consequences.    Trade,  commerce,  and  ship-   important 
building  were  encouraged  ;  and  free  labor,  instead   events. 

of  that  of  serfs,  gave  the  lower  classes  better  homes  and  more 


io6 


HISTORY  OF  ENGLAND. 


[^547- 


»553l 


THE   TUDOR  FAMILY, 


107 


HHI' 


^ 


of  the  comforts  of  life.  The  printing-press  gave  a  quickening 
influence  in  the  diffusion  of  knowledge  ;  and  an  English  transla- 
tion of  the  Bible  was  used  in  the  churches,  and  the  services 
were,  in  part  at  least,  conducted  in  the  English  language.  In 
learning,  a  revival  took  place,  wiiich  found  able  patrons  in  Wolsey 
and  More ;  and  Erasmus,  a  distinguished  Dutch  scholar,  was 
for  a  few  years  professor  of  Greek  at  Cambridge,  and  did  much 
to  promote  classical  scholarship  and  learning.  William  Lilly, 
one  of  the  first  scholars  of  his  age,  had  a  private  school  in 
London  about  1509,  and  is  said  to  have  been  the  first  person 
who  taught  Greek  in  that  city.  Soon  afterwards  he  became  the 
first  master  of  St.  Paul's  School,  founded  about  that  time  in 
London ;  and  he  published  a  Latin  grammar,  which  was  for  a 
long  time  used  in  all  the  schools  of  England,  and  which,  indeed, 
may  be  called  the  foundation  of  all  the  Latin  grammars  since 
published.  The  science  of  medicine,  and  its  application  to  the 
saving  of  human  life  and  the  amelioration  of  suffering,  made 
great  progress  at  this  time. 

Pins  were  first  introduced  from  France  by  Queen  Catherine 
Howard,  and  were  an  expensive  luxury ;  and  the  gold  coin 
representing  the  value  of  a  pound  sterling  was  first  called  a 
sovereign  during  this  reign.  Wales  had  its  first  representative 
in  Parliament  at  this  time. 

19.  Henry  VHL  left  three  children,  —  Mary,  daughter  of 
Catherine  of  Aragon ;  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Anne  Boleyn ; 
Reign  of  ^"^^  Edward,  son  of  Jane  Seymour.  The  last  suc- 
Edwardvi.  ceeded  him  (1547),  with  the  title  of  Edward 
VI.,  in  his  tenth  year;  Edward  Seymour,  Duke  of  Somerset, 
uncle  of  the  young  king,  being  appointed  protector ;  and  after 
his  fall  the  Duke  of  Northumberland  was  raised  to  the  same 
office.  Edward's  short  reign  was  distracted  by  contests  between 
those  to  whom  the  direction  of  public  affairs  was  intrusted.  But 
the  Protestant  influence  prevailed  in  the  government,  the  cause 
of  the  Reformation  was  promoted,  and  the  reformed  liturgy  and 
Book  of  Common  Prayer  was  modelled  under  the  direction  of 


Cranmer ;  yet  a  great  part  of  the  people  were  still  attached  to 
the  Catholic  faith. 

20.  Edward,  a  prince  of  great  hopes  and  virtues,  died  in  his 
sixteenth  year,  deeply  lamented.    So  different  was  his  character 
from  that  of  his  father,  that  he  is  said  never  to  have   His  charac- 
signed  an  order  for  an  execution  against  any  per-  te*". 

son  without  shedding  tears.  Just  before  his  death  he  had  been 
prevailed  upon,  by  the  interested  influence  and  intrigues  of  the 
Duke  of  Northumberland,  the  protector,  to  set  aside  his  sisters 
Mary  and  Elizabeth,  and  bequeath  the  crown  to  Jane  Grey, 
great-grand-daughter  of  Henry  VH.,  who  was  married  to  Lord 
Guilford  Dudley,  a  son  of  the  protector. 

21.  Immediately  after  the  death  of  Edward,  Lady  Jane  Grey, 
who  had   been  appointed  successor  by  the   intrigues  of  her 
friends,  was  proclaimed  queen  by  her  adherents;  Ladyjanc 
but,  after  wearing  the  crown  ten  days,  she  resigned  ^^^y* 

it,  and  would  gladly  have  returned  to  private  life.  Mary  was 
soon  acknowledged  the  rightful  heir,  and  succeeded  to  the 
throne  in  1553.  The  youth  and  innocence  of  Lady  Jane  and 
her  husband  (neither  of  them  exceeding  their  seventeenth  year) 
pleaded  strongly  in  their  favor ;  yet  they  were  both  seized,  and 
cast  into  the  Tower. 

22.  In  the  second  year  after  she  succeeded  to  the  throne, 
Mary  was  married  to  Philip  II.  of  Spain, — a  union  unpopular 
with  her  subjects,  and  productive  of  little  happiness  Her  mar- 
to  herself.  Upon  the  announcement  of  this  pro-  "*e«- 
jected  marriage  several  rebellions  took  place,  and  in  one  of 
these  some  of  the  friends  of  Lady  Jane  Grey  took  part.  This 
sealed  the  fate  of  the  unfortunate  lady,  and  she  and  her  husband 
were  soon  after  put  to  death. 

23.  Lady  Jane  Grey,  who  is  described  as  a  rare  scholar,  and 
a  young  woman  of  singular  virtues  and  accomplishments,  sent, 
on  the  day  of  her  execution,  a  message  to  her  hus-  character  of 
band,  who  desired  to  see  her,  informing  him  that  !»«« Grey, 
the  tenderness  of  their  last  interview  would  be  too  much  for 


io8 


// IS  TORY  OF  ENGLAND, 


['555* 


It 


P 

t. 


her  to  bear.  "Tell  him,"  added  she,  "that  our  separation  will 
be  only  for  a  moment.  We  shall  soon  meet  each  other  in  a 
place  v/here  our  affections  shall  be  forever  united,  and  where 
misfortunes  will  never  more  disturb  our  eternal  felicity."  Lady 
Jane's  tutor  was  Sir  Roger  Ascham,  one  of  the  most  eminent 
scholars  of  the  time,  and  a  distinguished  teacher,  who  numbered 
among  his  pupils  Queen  Elizabeth,  Edward  VI.,  and  many  of 
the  children  of  the  nobility. 

24.  Mary  was  educated  a  strict  Catholic  ;  and  she  caused  to 
be  annulled  many  of  the  acts  of  her  father,  Henry  VIII.,  and 
Mary  and  of  her  brother,  Edward  VI.,  in  favor  of  the  Prot- 
her  religion,  estauts  J  and  the  Catholic  religion  was  restored. 
Northumlierland  was  beheaded ;  and  Archbishop  Cranmer,  who 
assisted  1 lenry  VIII.  in  his  divorce  from  Mary's  mother,  was 
imprisoned  in  the  Tower. 

25.  Mary's  early  life  was  one  of  sorrow  and  suffering.  The 
unfortunate  influence  of  her  flither's  domestic  life,  and  the  fear 
„     .     .        and  persecution  which  she  suffeced  at  the  hands  of 

Mary  s  cnar-  * 

acterand  hcr  cncmics,  unfavorably  affected  her  health  and 
policy.  temper:    hence,  in  her  eflbrts  to  re-establish  and 

protect  the  Catholic  Church,  which  she  sincerely  believed  to  be 
the  true  church,  she  was  led  to  extreme  measures.  A  general 
persecution  was  commenced  against  the  reformers.  The  men 
Per^ccu-  who  had  been  most  forward  in  establishing  the  Prot- 
tions.  estant  religion  in  England  were  singled  out  for  pun- 

ishment ;  and  among  the  most  eminent  martyrs  who  were  burnt 
at  Smithfield  and  at  Oxford  about  1555  were  Archbishop  Cran- 
mer, John  Rogers  (canon  of  St.  Paul's),  and  Bishops  Latimer, 
Ridley,  Hooper,  and  Ferrar.  More  than  two  hundred  and  eighty 
persons  perished  at  the  stake,  including  fifty-five  women  and 
four  children.  By  these  proceedings  the  feelings  of  the  people 
were  shocked.  The  excellent  character  of  most  of  the  sufferers, 
and  the  undaunted  spirit  which  they  exhibited,  produced  a  strong 
sensation  in  their  favor,  and  diminished  the  influence  of  the 
Church  of  Rome ;  so  that  these  measures  tended  to  forward, 
rather  than  to  check,  the  progress  of  the  Reformation. 


»558-] 


7I/E   TUDOR  FAMILY. 


109 


26.  Through  the  influence  of  her  husband,  Mary  became 
involved  in  the  war  between  Spain  and  France;  and  in  1558 
the  French,  under  the  Duke  of  Guise  (Gweez),  The  loss  of 
besieged  and  retook  Calais,  which  had  been  in  the  Calais. 
hands  of  the  English  more  than  two  hundred  years.  The  loss 
of  this  stronghold,  the  last  of  her  possessions  in  France,  was  a 
severe  blow  to  the  queer) ;  and  soon  after  this  event  she  died, 
feeling  bitter  vexation  for  the  loss,  and  for  being  aware  that  she 
was  an  object  of  aversion  to  her  husband  and  to  a  great  part 
of  her  subjects.  Mary's  history  has  been  oftener  written  by  her 
enemies,  and  in  a  partisan  spirit,  than  by  her  friends ;  and  it  is 
more  than  probable  that  full  justice  has  not  been  done  to  some 
of  her  virtues  and  good  qualities,  which  are  matters  of  history, 
though  seldom  mentioned  or  made  prominent. 

27.  The  accession  of  Elizabeth  to  the  throne  in  1558,  was 
hailed  by  the  nation  with  joyful  acclamations.     Scarcely  had 
she  entered  upon  her  new  duties  when  she  received   Elizabeth's 
an  offer  of  marriage  from  Philip  II.  of  Spain,  the   offers  of 
husband  of  her  late  sister  Mary.     Philip's  kingdom   "^^"^^e*- 

at  this  time  embraced  Spain,  Portugal,  Italy,  the  Netherlands, 
and  portions  of  the  East  and  the  West  Indies ;  and  he  hoped, 
by  marrying  Elizabeth,  to  add  England  also  to  his  realm.  But 
tlie  offer  was  declined,  as  were  similar  ones  from  the  kings  of 
Denmark  and  Sweden.  In  the  following  year  the  Commons 
asked  the  queen  to  fix  her  choice  of  a  husband :  but  she  re- 
l)lied  that  she  had  espoused  the  kingdom  ;  England  was  her 
husband,  and  all  Englishmen  her  children  ;  and  that,  while  en- 
gaged in  rearing  such  a  family,  her  life  could  not  be  considered 
unprofitable. 

28.  Elizabeth  had  a  long  and  auspicious  reign,  during  which 
tranquillity  was  maintained  in  her  dominions,  while  the  neigh- 
boring nations  were  convulsed  with  dissensions  ;  and  character 
England  rose  from  the  rank  of  a  secondary  king-  of  *^er  reign, 
dom  to  a  level  with  the  first  states  of  Europe.  The  Protestant 
religion  was  again  restored  and  protected,  and  the  Church  of 
England  was  established  in  its  present  form. 


no 


HISTORY  OF  ENGLAND, 


[1566. 


156;.] 


THE   TUDOR  FAMILY. 


Ill 


Two  important  acts  were  passed  soon  after  her  accession  to 
the  throne.  The  first,  called  "  The  Act  of  Sui^remacy,"  required 
all  officers,  spiritual  and  temporal,  to  acknowledge  Elizabeth 
under  oath  as  "  Suprenie  Governor  "  of  the  Church,  as  well  as  of 
the  realm.  Severe  penalties  were  inflicted  upon  those  refusing. 
The  other  statute  was  "The  Act  of  Uniformity ; "  compelling  all 
the  subjects  of  the  kingdom,  under  penalty  of  a  fine,  to  attend 
the  service  and  mode  of  worship  prescribed  in  the  Book  of 
Common  Prayer,  and  forbidding  any  one  to  conduct  any  other 
service.  Several  bishops  and  other  ecclesiastics  refused  the  oath, 
and  resigned,  or  were  deprived  of  their  places.  Many  Catholics, 
also,  fled  to  foreign  lands ;  and  a  large  number  of  Protestants 
who  had  sought  homes  abroad  during  the  reign  of  Mary,  and 
had  now  returned,  refused  to  obey  the  law.  Believing  in  a 
simpler  mode  of  worship  than  that  prescribed,  and  in  a  purer 
life,  they  were  reproachfully  called  "Puritans."  In  1566  they 
separated  from  the  Established  Church,  and  were  called,  also, 
"  Dissenters  "  and  "  Nonconformists." 

The  nation  attained  a  higher  state  of  prosperity  than  it  had 
ever  before  known  in  agriculture,  commerce,  arts,  and  literature. 
This  reign,  often  called  the  "  Augustan  age  of  English  literature," 
was  illustrated  by  the  great  names  of  Hooker  (one  of  the  most 
eminent  divines).  Bacon  the  philosopher,  Spenser  the  author  of 
"  The  Faery  Queen,"  and  Shakspeare. 

.29.  Elizabeth  is  charged  with  treachery  and  cnielty  in  her 
treatment  of  Mary,  Queen  of  Scots,  —  a  woman  whose  extraor- 
Mary,  Queen  dinary  beauty  and  misfortunes  seem,  in  the  minds 
of  Scots.  of  many,  to  have  thrown  a  veil  over  all  the  defects 
of  her  character.  Mary  was  great-grand-daughter  of  Henry 
Vn.,  and  next  heir  to  Elizabeth  to  the  throne  of  England.  She 
had  been  educated  in  France  as  a  Catholic,  and  married,  when 
very  young,  to  the  dauphin,  afterwards  Francis  H.  She  had 
been  persuaded,  imprudently,  to  assume  the  title  of  "  Queen  of 
England," — a  circumstance  which  proved  fatal  to  her  peace. 
On  the  death  of  Francis  she  returned  to  Scotland,  at  the  age  of 


eighteen  years.  At  this  period  the  Reformation,  by  the  zealous 
labors  of  John  Knox,  had  made  great  progress  in  that  country ; 
and  the  people  regarded  their  Catholic  queen  with  abhorrence, 
and  looked  to  her  enemy  Elizabeth  for  support. 

Mary  married,  for  her  second  husband,  her  cousin  Henry 
Stuart  (Lord  Darnley),  who  soon  became  disagreeable  to  her, 
and  was  in  less  than  two  years  murdered.  In  about  three 
months  after  this  tragical  event  she  married  (1567)  the  Earl 
of  Bothwell,  who  was  stigmatized  as  the  murderer  of  Darnley. 
Her  conduct  excited  against  her  the  whole  kingdom  of  Scot- 
land. Public  indignation  could  no  longer  be  restrained.  The 
nobles  rose  against  her  and  her  husband  Bothwell.  She  was 
taken,  confined  in  the  Castle  of  Loch  Leven,  and  was  at  length 
compelled  to  resign  the  crown  to  her  infant  son,  who  was 
proclaimed  James  VI. ;  and  her  illegitimate  brother,  the  Earl 
of  Murray,  a  friend  to  the  Reformation,  was  appointed  regent 
during  the  young  king's  minority. 

In  less  than  a  year  Mary,  by  the  assistance  of  friends,  effected 
her  escape  from  Loch  Leven  Castle,  and  fled  into  England, 
hoping  to  secure  the  favor  of  her  rival,  Elizabeth.  In  this,  how- 
ever, she  was  disappointed.  After  being  kept  as  a  prisoner  more 
than  eighteen  years  in  different  places,  she  was  tried  on  an 
accusation  of  having  been  accessory  to  a  conspiracy  against  the 
Queen  of  England,  was  condemned,  and  beheaded  in  one  of 
the  rooms  of  Fotheringay  Castle,  in  the  forty-fifth  year  of  her 
age. 

30.  Elizabeth  warmly  espoused  the  cause  of  the  Netherlands 
in  their  revolt  against  the  authority  of  Philip  II.  of  Spain ;  and 
her  admiral.  Sir  Francis  Drake,  had  taken  some  of  The  Spanish 
the  Spanish  possessions  in  South  America.  To  Armada, 
avenge  these  offences,  and  to  subjugate  the  leading  Protestant 
power,  the  Spanish  "  Invincible  Armada,"  a  more  formidable 
fleet  than  Europe  had  ever  before  witnessed,  was  fitted  out  for 
the  invasion  of  England. 

This  armament  consisted  of  a  hundred  and  fifty  ships,  three 


112 


HISTORY  OF  ENGLAND. 


[•567. 


thousand  pieces  of  cannon,  and  twenty-seven  thousand  men. 
It  entered  the  Enghsh  Channel  in  the  form  of  a  crescent, 
extending  its  two  extremities  to  the  distance  of  seven  miles. 
It  was  met  by  the  English  fleet,  consisting  of  a  hundred  and 
eight  ships,  commanded  by  those  distinguished  maritime  chiefs, 
Howard,  Drake,  Hawkins,  Frobisher,  and  Raleigh.  Being 
gradually  weakened,  and  finally  overtaken  by  a  storm,  the 
Armada  suffered  an  entire  defeat.  Only  fifty  vessels,  with  six 
thousand  men,  returned  to  Spain. 

31.  The  age  of  Elizabeth  was  fruitful  in  men  of  talents ;  and 
she  was  assisted  in  her  government  by  eminent  statesmen, 
Eminent  among  whoni  were  Sir  Nicholas  Bacon,  Sir  Francis 
statesmen.  Walsiugham,  an  able  statesman  and  diplomatist,  and 
William  Cecil  (Ses'-il),  who  was  prime-minister  of  the  realm 
for  about  forty  years,  and  was  the  principal  director  and  man- 
ager of  the  government.  These  men  were  wholly  devoted  to 
the  interests  of  the  nation.  But  her  chief  personal  favorites 
were  unworthy.  Of  these,  in  the  early  part  of  her  reign,  the 
principal  was  Robert  Dudley,  Earl  of  Leicester.  After  his  death, 
Robert  Devereux,  Earl  of  Essex,  a  young  nobleman  of  accom- 
plishments, talents,  and  high  spirit,  possessed  the  first  place  in 
^er  affecjtions.  The  queen  and  Essex  had  many  quarrels  and 
reconciliations  ;  but  his  brilliant  career  was  finally  brought  to  a 
sad  and  tragical  end. 

32.  Elizabeth's  attention  was  frequently  called  to  the  un- 
settled stale  of  Scotland  and  Ireland,  both  of  which  had  re- 
Eariof  ceived  sympathy  and  assistance  from  France  and 
Essex.  Spain.  An  Irish  chieftain,  whom  the  queen  had 
made  Earl  of  Tyrone,  raised  the  standard  of  revolt,  and  for 
some  time  defied  all  attempts  to  reduce  him  and  his  clan  to 
subjection.  Finally  Essex  was  intrusted  with  an  army  for  quell- 
ing this  rebellion.  But  his  blunders  and  delays  soon  brought 
upon  him  a  reprimand  from  the  queen :  whereupon  he  hastily 
returned  to  London,  thereby  incurring  the  displeasure  of  Eliza- 
beth, who  immediately  curtailed  his  liberty,  and  caused  his 


1603] 


THE   TUDOR  FAMILY, 


"3 


movements  to  be  closely  watched.  Failing  to  regain  the 
queen's  confidence,  and  to  secure  the  continuance  of  some 
commercial  monopolies  which  he  had  formerly  enjoyed,  Essex 
finally  broke  into  open  rebellion,  and  attempted  to  seize  the 
government;  but  his  plans  were  frustrated  (1601),  and  he  was 
convicted  of  treason,  and  beheaded. 

33.  Elizabeth,  who  had  surprised  the  nations  of  Europe  by 
the  splendor  of  her  course,  was  destined  to  close  the  evening 
of  her  life  in  gloom  and  sorrow.  Some  ascribe  the  Elizabeth's 
deep  depression  and  mental  suffering  which  she  at  »ast  days, 
this  period  endured,  to  the  neglect  which  she  imagined  she  ex- 
perienced on  account  of  her  age  and  infirmities,  when,  to  use 
her  own  expression,  "  men  would  turn  their  backs  on  the  setting 
to  worship  the  rising  sun  ;  "  others,  to  the  revival  of  her  regret 
for  the  death  of  Essex,  whom  she  had  given  up  for  his  invinci- 
ble obstinacy,  but  who,  she  now  discovered,  had  actually  thrown 
himself  upon  her  clemency,  while  his  enemies  had  found  means 
to  conceal  his  application.  The  Countess  of  Nottingham,  now 
upon  her  death-bed  (according  to  various  historians),  sent  for 
the  queen,  to  confess  to  her  that  Essex,  while  under  the  sen- 
tence of  death,  had  desired  her  to  convey  to  Elizabeth  a  ring 
which  she  had  given  him  with  the  assurance  that  the  siglit  of 
it  would  at  any  time  recall  her  tenderness ;  but  that  she  had 
neglected  to  deliver  it.  The  queen,  in  a  frenzy  of  passion, 
shook  the  dying  countess,  exclaiming,  "  God  may  forgive  you, 
but  I  never  can  ! "  From  that  moment  she  sank  into  a  deep 
melancholy,  rejected  all  sustenance,  and  died  (1603)  in  pro- 
found grief,  in  the  forty-fifth  year  of  her  reign  and  the  seventieth 
of  her  age. 

34.  Elizabeth  was  distinguished  for  her  learning,  and  spoke 
fluently  Greek,  Latin,  French,  and   Spanish.     She   possessed 
extraordinary  talents  for  government,  was  great  as  a  Hg^charac 
public  character,  and  commanded  the  high  respect   tcr  as  a 

of  her  subjects  and  of  foreign  nations.     Her  three  sovereign, 
leading  maxims  of  policy  were  to  secure  the  affections  of  her 


114 


HISTORY  OF  ENGLAND. 


[1603. 


Ml 


subjects,  to  be  frugal  of  her  treasures,  and  to  excite  dissensions 
among  her  enemies.  She  manifested  less  regard  for  the  liberty 
than  for  the  prosperity  of  the  people.  In  the  former  part  of 
her  reign,  she  was  comparatively  moderate  and  humble,  but 
afterwards  haughty  and  severe.  Both  her  disposition  and  her 
principles  were  despotic.  With  regard  to  religion,  she  perse- 
cuted both  Catholics  and  Puritans ;  but,  like  her  father,  she  had 
a  leaning  towards  Rome  in  almost  every  thing  except  the  doc- 
trine of  Papal  supremacy. 

35.  Her  private  character  is  less  to  be  admired,  being  tar- 
nished  with  insincerity  and  crueky,  and  destitute  of  the  milder 
Private  and  softer  virtues  of  her  sex.  Her  manners  were 
character.  haughty  and  overbearing,  and  her  conversation 
grossly  profane.  Not  only  was  she  vain  of  her  beauty  (which 
she  only  could  discover),  and  delighted  with  the  praise  of  her 
charms,  even  at  the  age  of  sixty-five,  but  was  jealous  of  every 
female  competitor  to  a  degree  which  the  youngest  and  silliest 
of  her  sex  might  despise.  She  was  also  subject  to  sallies  of 
anger  which  no  sense  of  dignity  could  restrain ;  and  on  the 
whole  she  furnished  a  remarkable  instance  of  great  moral  weak- 
nesses united  with  high  intellectual  superiority. 

36.  The  reign  of  Elizabeth  was  signalized  by  the  circumnavi- 
gation of  the  globe  by  Sir  Francis  Drake  (1580),  the  first  Eng- 
important  lishman  who  accomplished  that  feat;  also  by  the 
events.  introduction  of  potatoes  and  tobacco  from  America, 
pocket-watches  from  Germany,  paper-making,  and  coaches. 
In  1563  knives  began  to  be  manufactured  in  London,  the  first 
branch  of  cutlery  established  in  the  country.  The  population 
of  London  in  that  year  is  said  to  have  been  a  hundred  and 
sixty-three  thousand. 

Trinity  College  (Dublin),  Westminster  School  (London),  and 
the  famous  school  at  Rugby,  were  all  established  in  this  reign. 
Sir  Thomas  Gresham,  a  wealthy  London  trader,  erected  (1566) 
a  magnificent  edifice  for  the  merchants  as  a  place  of  meeting, 
and  which  the  queen  named  the  Royal  Exchange. 


1603] 


THE   TUDOR  FAMILY. 


"5 


/ 


In  1600  a  company  of  London  merchants  met  at  the  house 
of  one  of  their  number,  and  subscribed  a  capital  of  thirty  thou- 
sand pounds  to  purchase  a  vessel  to  trade  with  the  East  Indies ; 
and  they  received  a  charter  soon  afterwards  from  Elizabeth. 
This  was  the  beginning  of  that  great  commercial  monopoly,  the 
East-India  Company,  which  ultimately  led  to  British  rule  in 
India. 

EVENTS   AND   SOCIETY  OF  THE  TUDOR  PERIOD. 

37.  The  reign  of  the  Tudor  family  in  England  covers  the 
entire  period  of  the  sixteenth  century,  with  a  slight  overlapping 
at  each  end  of  that  century,  —  or,  more  exactly  Political 
(1485-1603),  a  period  of  one  hundred  and  eigh-  <=ve"ts. 
teen  years.  Politically  the  period  was  an  important  one  on 
account  of  the  practical  extinction  of  the  feudal  system  and  the 
checking  of  the  power  of  the  nobles ;  the  bold  assertion  and 
exercise  of  the  prerogative  of  the  sovereign,  especially  by  Henry 
VIII. ;  the  enactment  of  many  important  laws  relating  to  the 
Church ;  and  the  progress  made  by  the  House  of  Commons, 
the  people's  branch  of  Pariiament,  in  influencing  legislation, 
and  particulariy  in  making  its  assent  necessary  in  granting 
supplies  of  money. 

38.  But  the  prominent  feature  of  the  century  was  the  revo- 
lution in  ecclesiastical  and  religious  affairs.  From  entire  devo- 
tion to  the  Roman-Catholic  Church,  and  yielding  The  Refor- 

a  large  revenue  to  its  support  and  treasury,  England  »a«on. 
became  essentially  Protestant,  although  many  people  still  re- 
mained devoted  to  the  Church  of  Rome.  Instead  of  the  Pope, 
the  sovereign  was  made  the  ecclesiastical  head  of  the  Church ; 
the  Bible  was  translated  into  the  English  language,  and,  by  the 
aid  of  the  printing-press,  began  to  be  widely  read  by  the  people. 
This  change  in  religious  affairs  was  not  brought  about  without 
great  convulsions,  that  shook  society  to  its  foundations.  Passion 
and  violence  entered  largely  into  the  controversy  on  both  sides, 
and  neither  party  could  claim  much  credit  for  the  exercise  of 
toleration.    The  consequences  of  the  political  and  religious 


ii6 


HISTORY  OF  ENGLANP. 


[i^'03- 


/ 


Trade  and 
commerce. 


events  of  this  century  affected  very  materially  the  history  of  the 
century  that  followed. 

39.  Trade  and  commerce  flourished  during  this  century ;  and 
so  successfully  was  ship-building  carried  on,  that  English  ship- 
carpenters  were  in  great  demand  in  other  countries. 
The  spirit  of  nautical  adventure,  so  prominent  at 

the  close  of  the  previous  century,  continued  to  stimulate  the 
minds  of  English  merchants  and  adventurers.  Cod-fishing  on 
the  Banks  of  Newfoundland  was  followed  as  early  as  1536  ;  and 
some  time  afterward  vessels  were  sent  into  the  northern  seas  to 
engage  in  whale-fishing. 

An  attempt  was  made  to  discover  a  north-east  passage  to 
China,  which  was  unsuccessful ;  but  it  resulted  in  opening  a 
trade  with  Russia.  Japan  and  Greenland  were  visited.  Sir 
Walter  Raleigh  and  others  made  voyages  along  the  coast  of 
North  America,  and  attempted,  though  unsuccessfully,  to  form 
settlements  in  the  country.  Many  bold  navigators  in  the  time 
of  Elizabeth  sailed  on  marauding  expeditions  against  Spanish 
commerce,  from  which  they  sometimes  returned  laden  with  rich 
booty. 

40.  The  activity  of  trade  stimulated  some  branches  of  manu- 
factures. Silk  was  produced,  to  some  extent  by  foreign  weavers  ; 
Manufac-  great  improvement  was  made  in  the  tanning  of 
tures.  leather;  and  the  manufacture  of  cloth  became  a 
very  extensive  and  profitable  industry.  In  one  year  in  the 
time  of  Elizabeth,  English  merchants  exported  to  the  Nether- 
lands, principally  to  Antwerp,  cloth  to  the  value  of  twelve  mil- 
lion dollars.  In  this  reign  many  London  merchants  became 
very  rich.  Silver  shillings  were  first  coined  in  England  in  the 
reign  of  Henry  VII. 

41.  In  the   early  part  of  the  century,  agriculture  was  not 
greatly  improved.     Large  tracts  of  land  which  had  been  for- 
merly cultivated  were  used  for  pasturage,  partly  on 
account  of  the  scarcity  of  laborers  after  the  abolition 

of  villenage,  and  also  on  account  of  the  great  demand  for  wool. 


Agriculture. 


1603.] 


THE   TUDOR  FAMILY. 


117 


The  suppression  of  the  monasteries  occasioned  a  similar  change 
in  the  use  of  much  land.  Numerous  flocks  of  sheep  were  pas- 
tured by  the  peasants,  and  on  some  of  the  large  estates  there 
were  to  be  found  flocks  numbering  from  ten  to  twenty  thousand. 

But  during  the  latter  half  of  the  century  more  attention  was 
given  to  the  cultivation  of  the  soil,  and  a  greater  variety  of 
products  was  the  result.  The  introduction  of  clover  made  the 
land  capable  of  supporting  more  cattle,  sheep,  and  horses ;  and 
hops  were  extensively  cultivated.  From  the  Continent  were 
introduced  and  cultivated  salads,  cabbages,  melons,  and  arti- 
chokes, as  were  also  several  delicious  fruits,  such  as  apricots, 
currants,  plums,  cherries,  gooseberries,  and  pippins  from  the 
East  and  from  Southern  Europe.  Pleasure-gardens  were  well 
laid  out  with  terraces,  and  ornamented  with  vases  and  fountains ; 
and  there  were  introduced  the  gillyflower,  the  carnation-pink, 
and  several  varieties  of  roses,  including  ihe  musk-rose. 

The  farmers'  wives  performed  their  full  share  of  labor  in  the 
support  of  the  family.  They  spun  and  wove  wool  and  flax  for 
the  clothing  of  the  household;  and  an  old  writer  Labor  of 
says  it  was  the  duty  of  a  good  housewife  "  to  win-  women, 
now  all  manner  of  corn,  to  make  malt,  to  wash,  and  to  make 
hay,  shear  corn,  and  in  time  of  need  help  her  husband  fill  the 
muck-wain,  drive  the  plough,  to  load  hay,  corn,  and  such  other, 
and  to  go  to  market  and  sell  butter  and  pigs,  fowls,  or  corn." 

42.  The  common  people  were  generally  industrious  and  con- 
tented ;  though  begging  and  robbery  were  common,  and  often 
called  for  the  interposition  of  the  strong  arm  of  the  condition  of 
law.  Henry  VIII.  regarded  poverty  as  a  kind  of  the  people, 
crime ;  and  he  had  severe  laws  passed  to  prevent  begging,  in- 
cluding one  against  the  gypsies,  so  called  because  they  were 
supposed  to  have  come  originally  from  Egypt.  But  in  the  time 
of  Elizabeth  charitable  efforts  were  made  to  relieve  and  encour- 
age the  worthy  poor,  although  idlers  and  vagabonds  were  placed 
in  the  stocks  or  in  the  house  of  correction. 

43.  The  Tudor  style  of  architecture,  which  was  a  combination 


HISTORY  OF  ENGLAND. 


V^^- 


i  ■ 


lit 


of  the  Italian  and  the  Gothic,  was  an  improvement  on  what  had 
Dwellings  preceded  it.  In  point  of  elegance  and  convenience 
and  furni-  it  reached  its  great  excellence  in  the  time  of  Eliza- 
ture.  ^^^    rpj^g  j^^u  ^^  ^^  noWt  and  the  manor-house 

of  the  squire  were  built  for  comfort  and  elegance,  and  not,  like 
the  old  baronial  castles,  for  defence.  These  manor-houses  and 
the  dwellings  of  the  wealthier  classes  were  well  built,  and  were 
generally  of  a  style  in  which  two  projecting  wings,  with  an  inter- 
mediate porch,  were  supposed  to  represent  the  letter  E,  the 
queen's  initial,  and  hence  called  the  Elizabethan  style.  In 
accordance  with  the  Italian  custom,  the  principal  apartments 
were  above  j  and  hence  the  entrance-hall  and  stairway  were 
finished  with  much  style  and  decoration. 

Furniture  was  costly,  and  elaborately  carved  and  inlaid. 
Chairs  were  covered  with  velvet,  and  beds  and  bedsteads  were 
rich  in  material  and  finish.  Glass  mirrors  were  introduced  from 
France,  and  floor  carpets  from  the  East ;  and  the  latter  soon 
began  to  be  woven  in  England.  Turkish  carpets  were  used  in 
the  time  of  Edward  VL  as  table-covers.  Ornamental  clocks 
began  to  be  used  in  the  best  houses ;  and  one  placed  in  the 
palace  at  Hampton  Court  (1540)  is  still  in  existence. 

The  houses  of  the  fanners  and  peasants  were  improved  much 
during  the  century.  In  the  time  of  Elizabeth  they  were  usually 
built  of  stone  or  brick,  instead  of  timbers  and  wattle  ;  and  many 
articles  of  useful  furniture  were  introduced.  Feather-beds  had 
taken  the  place  of  the  pallet  of  straw. 

44.  The  style  of  living  among  the  nobility  during  the  latter 
part  of  the  sixteenth  century  was  luxurious,  and  attended  with 
Style  of  liv-  rouch  ceremony  and  ostentation.  In  this  respect 
*««•  the  royal  household  of  Elizabeth  was  surpassed  by 

none.  Her  dining-hall  resounded  with  the  music  of  drums  and 
trumpets.  Twenty-four  courses  were  served  at  dinner  on  gilded 
dishes,  and  were  brought  in  by  gentlemen  and  lady  attendants 
in  gorgeous  costume.  As  a  protection  against  poisoning,  every 
person  who  brought  in  a  dish  of  food  was  obliged  to  taste  of 
the  same  before  it  was  placed  upon  the  royal  table. 


1653I 


THE   TUDOR  FAMILY. 


119 


45.  Among  the  nobility,  entertainments  and  feasting  were 
conducted  in  a  more  stately  and  dignified  manner  than  in  the 
preceding  century  ;  the  boisterousness,  jesting,  and  Feasting 
buffoonery  of  earlier  times  having  been  laid  aside.  »nd  food. 
On  such  occasions  enormous  quantities  of  food  and  beer  were 
consumed,  and  servants  were  numerous.  Lord  Burleigh's  house- 
hold was  served  by  a  hundred  servants.  Robert  Dudley,  Earl 
of  Leicester,  entertained  Queen  Elizabeth  at  Kenilworth  Castle 
for  a  period  of  seventeen  days  at  an  expense  of  eighty-five 
thousand  dollars,  equivalent  to  half  a  million  dollars  at  the 
present  time.  On  that  occasion  it  is  stated  that  three  hundred 
and  sixty-five  hogsheads  of  beer  were  consumed. 

Meat,  bread,  and  fruits  were  the  principal  articles  of  food  at 
feasts,  sweets  and  confections  being  only  occasional  luxuries ; 
and  beer  and  wine  were  the  common  drinks.  Only  the  nobility 
and  the  rich  could  afford  wheaten  bread  all  the  time ;  the  farm- 
hands and  the  lower  classes  using  bread  of  bariey  and  rye,  and 
sometimes  mixed  and  ground  with  peas,  beans,  and  oats. 

Table-cloths  and  napkins  were  in  common  use,  and  pewter 
plates  had  begun  to  take  the  place  of  wooden  trenchers.  On 
the  tables  of  the  wealthy,  there  was  a  great  display  of  plate, 
which  was  valued  according  to  its  weight,  and  not  for  its  finish, 
which  was  not  elaborate.  Table-forks  were  not  yet  used  in 
England.  It  is  mentioned  that  guests  washed  before  eating, 
and  that  men  wore  their  hats  at  table. 

Thomas  Tusser,  who  flourished  in  the  time  of  Elizabeth,  and 
was  "  musician,  schoolmaster,  husbandman,  and  poet,"  wrote  a 
work  in  verse  on  "  Good  Husbandry  and  Good  Housewifery." 
In  this  work  he  gives  the  following  conditions  for  good  cheer :  — 


M 


Good  bread  and  good  drink,  a  good  fire  in  the  hall ; 
Brawn,  pudding,  and  sauce,  and  good  mustard  withal; 
Beef,  mutton,  and  pork,  shred  pies  of  the  best ; 
Pig,  veal,  goose,  and  capon,  and  turkey  well  drest; 
Cheese,  apples,  and  nuts,  jolly  carols  to  hear. 
As  these  in  the  country  is  counted  good  cheer." 


I 


120 


BIS  TORY  OF  EXGLAND. 


[1603. 


Dress. 


46.  The  styles  of  dress  were  various,  and  often  extravagant 
and  grotesque,  although  not  so  absurd  as  in  the  last  century. 
The  unsightly  tall  head-dresses  for  a  long  time  in 
vogue  were  discarded;  and  in  their  place  were 
worn  caps  or  bonnets  of  velvet,  and  felt  with  feathers,  which 
were  often  quite  picturesque.  Broad  turn-over  collars  of  fur 
or  velvet  were  worn  by  both  sexes. 

In  the  time  of  Henry  VIII.  men  were  required  to  cut  their 
hair  short,  but  the  beard  and  mustache  were  allowed  to  grow 
long.  In  the  reign  of  Elizabeth,  knit  stockings  of  silk  or 
worsted  began  to  take  the  place  of  hose  made  of  cloth.  Women 
wore  their  hair  curled  and  frizzled  about  the  head,  and  also 
hanging  at  length  upon  the  back  and  shoulders.  False  hair  was 
common,  the  color  being  governed  by  fashion.  At  the  age  of 
sixty-seven,  Queen  Elizabeth  wore  false  hair  of  red  color,  which 
was  the  original  hue  of  her  own.  Perfumed  gloves  trimmed 
with  gold  and  silver  and  jewelry  were  much  worn ;  and  pins 
with  heads,  for  fastening  garments,  became  quite  common,  in 
place  of  loops,  strings,  and  other  contrivances  formerly  in  use 
for  such  purposes.  The  personal  appearance  of  the  ladies  was 
greatly  marred  by  the  dark  color  of  their  teeth,  occasioned  by 
smoking  tobacco,  which  became  fashionable  after  Sir  Walter 
Raleigh  introduced  that  weed  into  England. 

Several  laws  were  passed  during  the  century,  forbidding  excess 
and  extravagance  in  dress ;  but  they  were  little  regarded  during 
the  reign  of  Elizabeth,  who  herself  set  the  people  an  example 
of  extravagance.  It  is  related  that  she  would  never  allow  a 
dress  to  be  given  away,  or  otherwise  disposed  of;  and  at  her 
death  the  number  in  her  wardrobe  was  three  thousand. 

47.  Amusements  and  festivals  of  various  kinds  were  partici- 
pated in  by  all  classes  Cosdy  pageants  upon  land  and  upon 
Amuse-  the  water,  music  and  dancing,  moralities  (a  kind  of 

«««*••  allegorical  dialogue),   cock-fighting,   horse-racing, 

and  bull  and  bear  baiting,  were  popular  forms  of  recreation. 

Christmas  was  a  joyous  time  for  the  whole  people,  and  St. 


1603.] 


THE   TUDOR  FAMILY. 


121 


Weddings. 


Valentine's  Day  was  the  time  for  love-making.  May  Day  was 
one  of  the  great  national  holidays.  The  young  people  went  to 
the  woods  on  the  morning  of  that  day  to  obtain  the  May-pole, 
which  was  drawn  into  the  village  by  many  yoke  of  oxen,  with 
their  horns  decorated  with  ribbons  and  flowers.  Around  this 
pole,  adorned  with  gay  streamers,  the  young  people  danced  in 
holiday  attire.  The  milkmaid's  dance,  a  common  pastime,  also 
took  place  on  this  day.  With  huge  piles  of  borrowed  silverware 
upon  their  heads,  they  danced  from  house  to  house,  receiving 
a  small  gratuity  in  money  from  the  occupants. 

48.  Weddings  were  occasions  of  great  joy  and  hilarity  among 
all  classes.  The  village  bride  was  escorted  to  the  church  by 
her  young  friends,  decked  with  ribbons  and  rose- 
mary, and  bearing  the  bride-cup  of  wine,  and 
followed  by  maidens  carrying  cake,  and  garlands  of  wheat,  and 
filling  the  air  with  music  and  Joyous  shouting. 

49.  The  printing-press  became  the  means  of  diffusing  much 
information  among  the  reading  classes,  and  the  colleges  gave  a 
good  education  to  those  who  resorted  to  them. 
Giris  were  generally  taught  at  home  by  private 
tutors.  Henry  VIII.,  Elizabeth,  and  Lady  Jane  Grey  were  all 
fine  classical  scholars,  and  distinguished  for  their  varied  attain- 
ments. Grammar  or  secondary  schools  were  established  for 
the  middling  classes,  in  which  were  taught  the  common  and 
some  of  the  higher  branches.  But  the  great  mass  of  the  people 
were  deplorably  ignorant.  It  is  related  that  Shakspeare's  father, 
though  an  alderman,  was  not  able  to  write  his  own  name. 

50.  Art  made  little  progress  in  the  time  of  the  Tudors, 
though  portrait-painting  was  cultivated  somewhat.  Hans  Hol- 
bein the  younger,  a  distinguished  German  portrait 
and  historical  painter,  spent  most  of  his  life  in 
England,  and  was  patronized  by  Henry  VIIL,  who  was  the  first^ 
person  that  made  a  collection  of  paintings  in  England. 


Education. 


Art. 


A 


CHAPTER  If. 
THE   STUART   FAMILY  (PART   I.).   * 

.       (FROM  JAMES   I.  TO  THE  COMMONWEALTH.) 
1603  to  1649,  —  46  years. 
James  I.  Charles  I. 

ELIZABETH,  on  the  approach  of  death,  nominated  for  her 
successor  the  son  of  her  rival  Mary,  James  VL  of  Scot- 
Character  of  land,  who  was  the  rightful  heir  by  descent.  He 
the  Stuarts,  took  the  title  of  James  I.  of  England  (1603), 
and  in  him  the  two  crowns  were  united.  He  was  the  first  of 
the  Stuarts,  —  a  family  whose  reign  was  one  continued  struggle 
for  power  between  the  monarch  and  the  people,  and  who  were 
characterized  by  despotic  principles,  injudicious  conduct,  and 
such  a  want  of  gratitude  and  good  faith  as  to  be  proverbial  for 
leaving  their  friends  in  distress. 

2,  James  had  scarcely  arrived  in  England  when  a  conspiracy 
was  discovered  for  subverting  the  government,  and  placing  on 
A  con-  the  throne  his  cousin,  Arabella  Stuart.     The  cele- 

spiracy.  brated  Sir  Walter  Raleigh,  who  had  been  distin- 
guished in  the  preceding  reign,  was  sentenced  to  death  on  an 
accusation  of  being  connected  in  this  plot.  He  was,  however, 
reprieved,  and  cast  into  the  Tower,  where  he  remained  thirteen 
years,  during  which  time  he  wrote  his  "  History  of  the  World." 
He  secured  his  release  from  prison  by  bribery,  it  was  said,  to 
engage  in  a  gold-hunting  expedition^  in  Guiana,  which  proved 
unsuccessful.  During  an  exploring-tour  up  the  Orinoco,  some 
of  his  party  had  a  hostile  engagement  with  some  Spaniards  at 
122 


1605.] 


T//E  STUART  FAMILY. 


123 


St.  Thomas.  After  his  return  to  England,  the  Spanish  court 
demanded  that  he  should  be  punished ;  and  James,  reviving 
the  sentence  passed  upon  him  fifteen  years  before,  caused  him 
to  be  barbarously  beheaded.  He  was  a  valiant  soldier  and  a 
famous  navigator,  and  as  a  scholar  and  writer  was  one  of  the 
first  men  of  the  age.  He  is  said  to  have  gained  the  favor  of 
Elizabeth  by  an  act  of  gallantry.  In  passing  from  her  carriage 
to  the  palace,  the  queen  was  about  to  step  into  the  mud  and 
water,  whereupon  Raleigh  threw  his  richly  embroidered  cloak 
upon  the  ground,  over  which  she  walked  with  great  compla- 
cency. 

3.  The  Catholics  had  been  hopeful  of  favors  from  James,  as 
his  mother  had  been  a  devout  Catholic ;  but  in  this  they  were 
doomed  to  disappointment.     The  severity  of  the   Gunpowder 
laws  against  them  was  not  relaxed.     The  king  es-   P^®*- 
poused   the   cause   of  the   Established   Church,  and  became 
intolerant  of  both  Catholics  and  Dissenters. 

Another  conspiracy  followed,  of  a  more  daring  nature.  This 
was  the  famous  "Gunpowder  Plot,"  — a  design  of  some  fanatical 
Catholics  to  blow  up  the  parliament-house,  and  involve  in  one 
common  destruction  the  king,  lords,  and  commons.  The  leader 
of  the  conspiracy  was  Robert  Catesby,  a  country  gentleman  of 
an  ancient  and  wealthy  family ;  and  all  the  members  were 
pledged  by  oath  to  the  utmost  secrecy.  They  hired  a  cellar 
under  the  parliament-house,  ostensibly  for  business  purposes, 
into  which  they  conveyed  thirty-six  barrels  of  gunpowder,  and 
covered  it  with  fagots.  Guy  Fawkes,  a  Yorkshireman  who  had 
done  military  service  in  the  Netherlands,  was  hired  as  keeper 
of  the  cellar,  and  to  carry  the  plot  into  execution. 

Lord  Mounteagle,  a  Catholic  member  of  Parliament,  received 

« 

an  anonymous  letter  urging  him  to  absent  himself  from  the 
opening  session  on  the  5th  of  November  (1605).  This  led 
to  an  investigation  and  to  placing  a  watch  upon  the  premises. 
During  the  night  of  the  4th,  as  Fawkes  opened  the  door  of 
the  cellar,  he  was  seized  by  soldiers,  and  secured.    Slow-matches 


I 

^1 


124 


HISTORY  OF  ENGLAND. 


[161 1. 


Dissenters. 


u 


for  firing  the  magazine  were  found  in  his  pocket,  and  behind 
the  door  was  a  dark-lantern  burning.  This  lantern  is  still  pre- 
served in  the  Bodleian  Library  at  Oxford.  Upon  the  arrest 
of  Fawkes,  the  conspirators  fled  into  the  country,  whither  they 
were  pursued ;  and  some  of  them  were  shot,  while  others  were 
arrested,  and,  with  Fawkes,  were  tried,  convicted,  and  exe- 
cuted. Before  his  execution,  Fawkes  was  put  to  the  torture ; 
and,  although  he  boldly  avowed  his  purpose,  he  made  no  con- 
fession concerning  his  confederates.  The  exposure  of  this  plot 
led  to  the  enactment  of  still  severer  laws  against  the  Catholics. 

4.  Soon  after  James's  accession,  a  convention  of  divines  was 
held  for  the  discussion  of  religious  subjects,  at  which  he  was 

one  of  the  principal  speakers ;  and  he  declared, 
that,  if  the  dissenters  did  not  "conform,"  he  would 
harry  them  out  of  the  land,"  —  a  threat  afterwards  not  wholly 
unaccomplished.  He  visited  Scotland  for  the  purpose  of  intro- 
ducing the  EstabHshed  Church  there,  but  was  not  favorably 
received.  His  countrymen  even  accused  him  of  being  a  traitor 
to  the  religion  in  which  he  was  educated,  and  to  the  promises 
he  made  while  King  of  Scotland. 

5.  The  version  of  the  Bible  known  as  King  James's  Version, 
...  the  one  now  in  use  by  Protestants,  was  made  during 

Toe  common  '  ^ 

English  the  reign  of  James  (1611)  by  a  large  committee 

of  divines  and  scholars  appointed  by  the  king  for 
that  purpose. 

6.  The  spirit  of  commercial  enterprise,  so  active  in  the  time 
of  Elizabeth,  gave  rise  in  this  reign  to  extensive  schemes  of 
*..Hc„  colonization,  one  of  which  resulted  in  planting  a 
Colonies.  colony  on  James  River  in  Virginia,  the  oldest  Eng- 
lish town  in  the  United  States,  and  which,  in  honor  of  the  king, 
was  called  Jamestown.  '  > 

During  the  reign  of  Mary,  the  Puritans  first  made  their 
ThePuri-  appearance;  and  in  the  time  of  Elizabeth  they 
t«n»-  became,  in  a  considerable   degree,   conspicuous. 

They  were  strenuous  advocates  for  freedom  in  the  state,  and  a 


1623  ] 


THE  STUART  FAMILY. 


125 


more  thorough  reformation  in  religion.  A  great  majority  of  the 
Puritans  remained  in  the  Established  Church,  though  protesting 
against  some  of  its  doctrines  and  practices.  At  the  accession 
of  James  they  cherished  high  hopes  that  their  views  would  meet 
with  more  favor  than  during  the  reign  of  the  late  queen,  inas- 
much as  he  had  been  educated  in  Presbyterianism.  But,  of  all 
persons,  they  were  the  most  disappointed.  So  great  was  their 
dissatisfaction,  that  some  of  them  sought  refuge  from  their 
restraints  and  persecutions  in  Holland.  Having  withdrawn 
from  the  Established  Church,  they  were  called  "  Separatists,"  or 
"  Independents,"  and  afterwards,  from  their  wanderings,  were 
known  as  the  "  Pilgrims."  After  a  residence  of  several  years  in 
Holland,  a  company  of  them  left  Delfthaven  (1620),  and,  being 
joined  by  friends  from  England,  sailed  across  the  ocean  to  the 
wilderness  of  America,  and  began  at  Plymouth  the  first  settle- 
ment in  New  England.  j^  '   "      ^ 

7.  It  was  the  characteristic  weakness  of  James  to  attach  him- 
self to  worthless  favorites :  such  were  Carr,  Earl  of  Somerset, 
and  Villiers,  Duke  of  Buckingham,—  men  on  whom  Bad  asso- 
he  bestowed  his  favors  with  the  utmost  prodigality,  "ates. 
though  they  were  of  profligate  character,  odious  to  the  people, 
and  were  possessed  of  no  merit,  except  external  beauty  and 
superficial  accomplishments. 

8.  But  some  of  the  king's  counsellors  were  men  of  ability 
and  distinction.  His  first  prime-minister  was  Rob- 
ert Cecil,  Earl  of  Salisbury,  who  had  held  the 
same  office  during  the  latter  part  of  Elizabeth's  reign,  and  who 
was  the  son  of  Lord  Burieigh.  He  was  an  able  statesman  and 
an  adroit  negotiator,  but  is  censured  for  promoting  or  permit- 
ting the  ruin  of  his  rivals,  —  Raleigh  and  Essex.  Francis  Bacon 
was  attorney-general,  keeper  of  the  seals,  and  lord  high  chan- 
cellor; but  he  was  accused  and  convicted  of  bribery,  fined 
forty  thousand  pounds,  and  imprisoned  for  a  time  in  the  Tower. 
He  was  a  man  of  great  ability,  of  the  highest  distinction  as  a 
scholar  and  an  author,  and  inaugurated  a  system  of  philosophy 


Counsellors. 


126 


HISTORY    OF   ENGLAND, 


[1625. 


that  laid  the  foundation  of  modem  science ;  but  his  greatness 
was  sadly  shaded  by  his  moral  weakness,  if  not  by  corruption. 
Pope  gave  him  the  stinging  characteristic  of  "  The  wisest,  bright- 
est, and  meanest  of  mankind." 

g.  The  leading  characteristic  of  James  was  his  love  of  arbi- 
trary power.  The  divine  right  of  kings  to  govern  their  subjects 
James  as  a  was  his  favorite  topic  in  conversation  and  in  his 
ruler.  speeches  to  Parliament.     He  wrote  a  book  in  de- 

fence of  this  doctrine,  and  maintained  that  sovereigns  should 
govern  according  to  their  own  will,  and  that  the  duty  of  subjects 
is  obedience.  Some  of  the  bishops  and  nobility  supported  him 
in  these  views ;  but  the  House  of  Commons  gave  no  counte- 
nance to  such  doctrines,  and  it  was  the  misfortune  of  the  king 
to  be  often  at  variance  with  his  Parliaments.  His  habits  led 
to  frequent  calls  for  money;  but  the  Commons  seldom  made  a 
grant' until  some  grievance  complained  of  was  redressed.  To 
replenish  his  empty  treasury,  he  created  the  title  of  baronet,  an 
hereditary  dignity  between  a  baron  and  a  knight,  and  sold  two 
hundred  of  them  for  a  thousand  pounds  each. 

10.  The  increase  of  commerce  and  the  consequent  influx 
of  wealth,  the  diffusion  of  information,  the  disappointed  hopes 
spirit  of  lib-  ^"^  ^^  privations  of  the  Puritans  (who  had  become 
«rty.  numerous),  and  the  controversies  in  which  they  were 

engaged,  all  conspired  to  diffuse  widely  the  spirit  of  liberty. 
The  current  of  public  opinion  was  now  strongly  turned  to  an 
extension  of  the  rights  of  the  people  and  to  a  retrenchment  of 
the  power  of  the  sovereign ;  and  it  was  during  this  reign  that 
the  seeds  were  sown  of  that  spirit  of  resistance  to  despotic 
power,  on  the  part  of  the  people,  which  in  the  next  produced 
a' subversion  of  the  monarchy. 

.  II.  James  died  of  ague  in  March,  1625.  While  King  of 
Scotland,  he  had  married  Ann  of  Denmark.  Of  several  chil- 
Dcath,  and  dren,  but  two  survived  him,  —  Elizabeth,  who  mar- 
famiiy.  fied  Count  Palatine,  —  a  German  prince,  and  for  a 

short  time  King  of  Bohemia,  —  and  Charles,  the  Prince  of 
Wales,  who  succeeded  his  father  upon  the  throne. 


1625-] 


THE  STUART  FAMILY, 


127 


//      12.  In  person  James  was  tall  and  exceedingly  awkward ;  and, 
although  very  fond  of  the  chase,  he  was  a  very  bad  nder.     His 
costume  is  described  as  consisting  of  a  doublet,  p,^„„  .nd 
or   short   jacket,   quilted  to   avoid  assassination ;  character, 
breeches  in  large  plaits,  and  stuffed  ;  long  tight-fittmg  s.lk  hose ; 
shoes  with  rosettes  ;  and  a  high-peaked  hat  with  a  feather. 

His  subjects  had  little  respect  for  his  personal  character ;  for 
his  morals  were  far  from  being  pure,  drunkenness  bemg  one  of 
his  besetting  sins.    The  sight  of  a  naked  sword  almost  caused 
•I  him  to  shudder,  and  he  lived  in  constant  fear  of  witches.     He 
'      possessed  a  good  deal  of  learning,  but  more  pedantry  and  was 
the  author  of  several  books,  including  one  on  "The  Dmne 
Right  of  Kings,"  a  "Counterblast  to  Tobacco,"  one  on     De- 
monology,"  and  a  "  Book  of  Sports,"  in  which  he  recommends 
wrestling,  archery,  and  other  games,  to  be  practised  on  Sunday, 
"  after  evening  prayers."     The  religious  public  of  aU  classes 
condemned  this  book. 

The  king's  greatest  weakness  was  his  excessive  fondness  tor 
flattery  which  was  dealt  out  to  him  with  an  unsparing  hand  by 
liis  bishops  and  parasites,  who  styled  him  the  "British  Solo- 
mon • "  but  the  Duke  of  Sully  called  him  "The  wisest  fool  in 
Europe."  But  the  best  part  of  his  character  was  his  pacific 
disposition  ;  and  his  reign,  which  lasted  twenty-two  years,  though 
ignoble  to  himself,  was  in  many  respects  happy  to  his  people, 
who  were  enriched  by  peace  and  commerce. 

13.  During  this  reign  (1614)  logarithms  were  invented  by 
Napier,  a  Scotchman ;  copper  halfpence  and  farthmgs  were 
first  coined ;  and  Harvey  made  his  famous  discovery  Event,  and 
(1619)  of  the  circuUtion  of  the  blood.  The  last  P««>n.. 
burnings  for  heresy  were  in  16..  ;  but  the  fagots  v.ere  often 
li<.hted  afterwards  for  the  punishment  of  supposed  witches. 
Among  the  celebrities  of  the  age  were  Coke,  an  eminent  judge 
and  jurist ;  Inigo  Jones,  the  architect  of  Whitehall  Palace ;  and 
four  distinguished  poets  and  dramatists,  -  Ben  Jonson,  Beau- 
mont and  Fletcher  (who  wrote  plays  together),  and  Shakspeare, 


!i 


128 


niSTORY  OF  ENGLAND. 


[1625. 


who  revolutionized  the  national  drama  of  England,  and  who 
was  the  greatest  writer  of  this  class  of  his  own  or  of  any  age. 
He  died  in  his  native  place,  Stratford-on-Avon,  in  16 16,  and 
was  buried  within  the  chancel  of  the  village  church,  where  the 
inscription  written  by  the  poet's  own  hand  still  meets  the  eyes 
of  pilgrims  to  that  shrine  of  genius  :  —  . 

"  Good  frend  for  Jesus  sake  forbeare  f/ 

'^^  ^'gg  ^^  dust  encloased  heare : 
Blest  be  ye  man  yt  spares  thes  stones. 
And  curst  be  he  yt  moves  my  bones." 

14.  Charles  I.  ascended  the  throne  (1625)  in  his  twenty- 
fifth  year,  under  favorable  circumstances.     His  title  was  undis- 
state  of  the    puted,  and  the  kingdom  was  in  a  flourishing  condi- 
kingdom.        tjon.     But  within  the  last  fifty  years  public  opinion 
in  the  nation  had  undergone  a  great  change ;  and  many  of  his 
subjects  were  extremely  jealous  of  their  civil  and  religious 
liberties,  and  would  no  longer  be  governed  by  precedents  which 
had  their  origin  in  times  of  ignorance  and  slavery.     He  soon 
gave  proof  that  he  inherited  the  same  arbitrary  principles  with 
his  father;  and  the  same  worthless  favorite,  Buckingham,  re- 
tained his  influence  and  authority.     Soon  after  his  accession, 
Charles  married  Henrietta  Maria,  daughter  of  Henry  IV  of 
France. 

15.  In  the  latter  part  of  the  reign  of  James,  Charies,  accom- 
panied by  Buckingham,  had  visited  the  court  of  Madrid  in 
Arbitrary  °^^^^  ^^  solicit  the  hand  of  the  infanta  in  marriage. 
measures  of  The  negotiation,  however,  failed  through  the  mis- 
*  •  ''^°*^'  conduct  of  Buckingham ;  and  England  was  involved 
in  a  war  with  Spain.  Soon  after  Charies  ascended  the  throne, 
he  was  oflended  with  the  Pariiament  for  refusing  to  grant  him' 
sufficient  supplies  in  carrying  on  this  war,  and  for  resisting  his 
arbitrary  designs;  and,  having  adopted  the  resolution  to  rule 
without  their  aid,  he  proceeded  to  levy  money  in  various  ways, 
independent  of  their  authority.  One  of  these  methods  was 
by  a  tax  on  merchandise,  called  "  tonnage  and  poundage ; " 


1628.] 


THE  STUART  FAMILY, 


129 


and  another  by  a  tax  called  "  ship-money."  The  money  raised 
by  the  latter  was  now  levied  not  only  on  seaport 
towns,  but  over  the  whole  kingdom ;  and  Charles  »?-"»<>««/• 
claimed  the  right  to  command  his  subjects,  without  an  act  of 
Parliament,  to  provide  and  furnish  ships,  together  with  men, 
victuals,  and  ammunition,  in  such  numbers  and  at  such  time 
as  he  should  think  proper,  —  a  claim  which  struck  at  the  vital 
principle  of  a  free  government.  This  assessment  of  ship-money 
is  the  famous  tax  which  first  roused  the  whole  nation  at  length 
to  fix  and  determine,  after  a  long  continuance  of  an  unsettled 
constitution,  the  bounds  of  their  own  freedom  and  the  king's 
prerogative. 

16.  A  noble  stand  was  made  against  the  payment  of  this  im- 
position by  John  Hampden,  a  man  who,  on  account  of  his  high 
character  for  talents,  integrity,  and  patriotism,  pos-  john 
sessed  the  greatest  influence  in  parliament  and  in  Hampden, 
the  nation.  But  although  the  venal  judges  decided  the  cause 
against  him,  yet  he  obtained  the  end  for  which  he  sacrificed  his 
quiet  and  his  safety.  The  people,  believing  that  the  decision 
was  unjust,  were  roused  from  their  lethargy,  and  became  fully 
sensible  of  the  danger  to  which  their  liberties  were  exposed. 

17.  An  important  measure  passed  by  the  Commons  early  in 
the  reign  of  Charles  was  called  the  "Petition  of  Rights,"  —  a 
law  which  the  king  was  compelled  to  sign,  securing  petition  of 
the  observance  of  certain  rights  guaranteed  by  Rights. 
Magna  Charta,  but  which  Charles  had  often  disregarded.  The 
principal  grievances  complained  of  were  martial  law,  and  the 
quartering  of  soldiers  in  private  houses,  forced  loans  and  taxes 
without  consent  of  Parliament,  and  arbitrary  imprisonments. 
An  important  provision  in  Magna  Charta  provided  that  "no 
penalty  shall  be  laid  on  any  man  but  by  the  judgment  of  his 
peers,  and  according  to  law."  This  Petition  of  Rights  has  been 
called  the  "  Second  Great  Charter  "  of  the  people  of  England. 

18.  The   Duke   of   Buckingham   having  been   assassinated 
(1628)  by  Felton,  an  Irish  fanatic,  Thomas  Wentworth,  Earl 


130 


HIS  TORY  OF  ENGLAND, 


[1640. 


of  Strafford,  the  most  able  and  devoted  champion  of  the  claims 
Strafford  o*"  ^^e  crown,  and  the  most  formidable  enemy  of 
and  Laud.  the  liberties  of  the  people,  became  the  chief  coun- 
sellor of  the  king ;  and  William  Laud,  afterwards  Archbishop 
of  Canterbury,  a  thorough  hater  of  the  Puritans,  had  the  prin- 
cipal influence  in  ecclesiastical  affairs. 

The  current  of  the  public  sentiment  was  now  running  strongly 
towards  Puritanism,  in  favor  of  a  simpler  form  of  worship.  But 
Laud,  so  far  from  countenancing  this  tendency,  had  overloaded 
the  church  with  new  ceremonies,  which  were  displeasing  to  the 
people,  and  which  he  enforced  with  the  most  intolerant  zeal. 

Not  satisfied  with  attempting  to  enforce  conformity  in  Eng- 
land, the  king  undertook  to  establish  episcopacy  in  Scotland 
Opposition  ^^^°'  ^"^  ^^  impose  the  use  of  the  English  liturgy 
to  episco-  upon  the  national  church.  This  measure  excited  a 
pacy.  strong  sensation  among  all  ranks,  from  the  peer  to 

the  peasant :  even  the  women  were  not  backward  in  manifesting 
opposition.  In  one  of  the  churches  of  Edinburgh,  on  the  day 
when  the  introduction  of  the  liturgy  was  first  attempted,  no 
sooner  had  the  service  begim  than  an  old  woman,  impelled  by 
sudden  indignation,  started  up,  and,  exclaiming  aloud  against 
the  innovation,  threw  the  stool  on  which  she  had  been  sitting 
at  the  preacher's  head.  The  assembly  was  instantly  in  confusion, 
nor  could  the  minister  finish  the  service.  The  people  from 
without  burst  open  the  doors,  and  broke  the  windows ;  and  a 
scene  of  great  disorder  brought  the  services  to  an  end.  The 
prelates  were  equally  unsuccessful  in  most  instances,  throughout 
Scotland,  in  enforcing  the  liturgy.  The  National  Covenant, 
which  was  first  framed  at  the  Reformation,  and  which  renounced 
Episcopacy  as  well  as  Roman  Catholicism,  was  renewed,  and 
subscribed  by  all  ranks. 

19.  After  eleven  years'  intermission,  the  king  found  it  neces- 
The  king  and  sary  in  1640  to  convoke  a  parliament;  but  the 
parliament.  House  of  Commons,  instead  of  listening  to  his  de- 
mands for  supplies,  began  with  presenting  the  public  grievances 


1640.] 


THE  STUART  FAMILY. 


131 


under  three  heads,  —  those  of  the  broken  privileges  of  Parlia- 
ment, of  illegal  taxes,  and  of  violence  done  to  the  cause  of 
religion.  Charles,  perceiving  he  had  nothing  favorable  to  hope 
from  their  deliberations,  soon  dissolved  the  Assembly.  By  an- 
other parliament  not  long  afterwards  assembled,  which  continued 
twenty  years,  and  was  called  the  "  Long  Parliament,"  Strafford 
and  Laud  were  sent  to  the  Tower  on  several  charges  of  endeav- 
oring to  subvert  the  constitution,  and  to  introduce  arbitrary 
power.  Strafford  was  brought  to  trial  on  a  charge  of  treason, 
and  was  condemned  and  beheaded ;  and  five  years  afterwards 
Laud  suffered  the  same  fate. 

20.  Charles  had,  in  1629,  violated  the  privileges  of  Parlia- 
ment by  causing  nine  members  to  be  imprisoned  for  the  part 
which  they  had  taken  in  debate.  But  he  was  now  ^^j^  ^^^^ 
betrayed  into  a  still  greater  indiscretion,  which  con-  ures  of  the 
tributed  much  towards  kindling  the  flame  of  civil  ^°*f' 
war.  This  was  the  impeachment  of  Lord  Kimbolton  and  five 
distinguished  commoners,  —  Pym,  Hampden,  Hollis,  Hazlerig, 
and  Strode,  —  and  his  going  himself  to  the  House  to  seize  them, 
leaving  two  hundred  armed  men  at  the  door.  Having  entered 
the  House,  he  ordered  the  speaker,  Lenthal,  to  point  them  out. 
"Sir,"  answered  the  speaker,  falling  on  his  knees,  "I  have 
neither  eyes  to  see,  nor  tongue  to  speak,  in  this  place,  but  as 
the  House  is  pleased  to  direct  me,  whose  servant  I  am ;  and  I 
humbly  ask  pardon  that  I  cannot  give  any  other  answer  to  what 
your  Majesty  is  pleased  to  demand  of  me."  The  king  with- 
drew without  effecting  his  object,  amidst  low  but  distinct  mur- 
murs of  "  Privilege,  privilege  1 "  This  ill-advised  and  abortive 
attempt,  which  was  condemned  both  by  his  friends  and  enemies, 
completed  the  degradation  of  the  unfortunate  monarch.  He 
afterwards  apologized  to  Parliament  for  this  conduct.  But  the 
day  of  reconciliation  was  past :  he  had  lost  the  confidence  of 
that  body ;  and  they  were  now  prepared,  not  only  to  confine  his- 
power  within  legal  bounds,  but  to  strip  him  of  his  constitutional 
authority. 


ija 


HISTORY  OF  ENGLAND, 


[1642. 


21.  Both  parties  resolved  to  stake  the  issue  of  the  contest  on 
the  sword,  and  the  standard  of  civil  war  was  now  (1642)  erected. 

Civil  war  '^^^  ^^"^^  ^^  ^^  ^'"g  was  supported  by  three-fourths 
and  its  of  the  nobility  and  superior  gentry,  })y  the  bishops, 

parties.  ^^^  advocates  of  episcopacy,  and  by  the  Catholics  ; 

that  of  the  Parliament,  by  the  yeomanry  of  the  country,  the 
merchants  and  tradesmen  in  the  towns,  by  the  Puritans,  or 
opponents  of  episcopacy,  comprising  the  Presbyterians,  Inde- 
pendents, and  other  dissenters.     The  supporters  of  the  king 

were  styled  "  Cavaliers ;  "  those 
of  the  Parliament,  "Round- 
heads," —  an  appellation  given 
to  them  by  their  adversaries  be- 
cause many  of  them  cropped 
their  hair  short. 

22.  A  religious  spirit,  un- 
fortunately tinctured  with  fa- 
naticism, extravagance,  and 
party  feeling,  was  at  this  period 
widely  diffused  throughout 
Great  Britain;  and  it  formed 
a  prominent  characteristic  of 
most  of  the  leaders  in  Parlia- 
ment, and  also  of  those  who 
took  up  arms  in  defence  of 
their  liberties.  The  charge  of 
license  and  excess  fell  chiefly  on  the  royalists,  a  great  part 
of  whom  were  men  of  pleasure,  disposed  to  deride  the  sanctity 
and  austere  morality  of  their  opponents.  "  All  the  sober  men 
that  I  was  acquainted  with,  who  were  against  the  Parliament," 
says  the  celebrated  Richard  Baxter,  "used  to  say,  'The  king 
had  the  better  cause,  but  the  Parliament  had  the  better  men.' " 

23.  England  had  been  comparatively  but  little  engaged  in 
war  since  the  accession  of  Henry  VII.,  and  it  had  but  fc  n  men 
of  military  experience.    The  chief  commanders  in  the  royal 


A  CAVALIER. 


1643] 


THE  STUART  FAMILY, 


133 


Edgehill. 


army,  besides  the  king,  were  the  Earl  of  Lindsey,  Prince  Rupert 
(nephew  of  Charles,  and  son  of  the  King  of  Bo-   Leaders  and 
hernia),  and  Sir  Jacob  Astley ;  and  in  the  pariia-  battles, 
mentary  army  the  Earl  of  Essex  (son  of  Essex,  the  favorite  of 
Elizabeth)  had  the  chief  command  at  first,  then  Lord  Fairfax, 
and  afterwartls  Oliver  Cromwell  (a  cousin  of  John  Hampden). 

24.  There  were  but  few  battles  in  the  civil  war  that  could  be 
called  great ;  but  there  was  much  skirmishing,  and  many  ma- 
rauding and  plundering  expeditions,  as  is  common 
in  wars  of  this  kind.  The  first  engagement  of  im- 
l)ortance  was  at  Edgehill  (October,  1642),  at  which  the  king 
was  present  in  person ;  his  troops  being 
commanded  by  Rupert,  while  Essex  was 
in  charge  of  the  pariiamentary  forces. 
Several  thousand  were  slain;  but  the 
battle  was  not  decisive,  although  the 
royalists  seemed  rather  to  have  gained 
the  advantage.  Charles  had  coined  his 
plate  into  money  to  raise  the  troops 
employed  on  this  occasion.  Soon  after 
the  battle,  he  retired  to  Oxford,  which 
was  strongly  fortified,  and  made  his 
headquarters  during  the  war.  Here  he 
occasionally  held  parliaments  of  such 
members  as  were  friendly  to  his  cause. 
In  some  of  these  parliaments  he  had  at 
times  a  majority  of  the  peers  of  the 
realm ;  but  the  greater  number  of  the 
commoners  remained  at  Westminster. 

25.  Attempted  negotiations  for  peace  failed.     In  the  winter 
of  1643  ^^  queen  returned  from  the  Continent  Foreign  aid. 
with  four  ships,  containing  troops  which  she  had^Hampden. 
raised  with  funds  obtained  by  selling  the  crown  jewels  in  Hol- 
land. ^ 

In  the  spring  Essex  took  Reading;   and  at  a  skirmish  in 


A  ROUNDHEAD. 


134 


HISTORY  OF  ENGLAND. 


[«643- 


Newbur/. 


Chalgrove  Field,  near  Oxford,  in  June,  John  Hampden  was 
killed.  He  was  an  able  advocate  of  human  rights  and  a  stanch 
friend  of  the  people.  Before  the  war,  he  and  Cromwell  had 
decided  to  emigrate  to  America ;  but  the  vessel  in  which  they 
were  to  sail  was  detained  by  order  of  the  king's  Council. 

26.  In  the  summer,  Bristol  and  the  west  surrendered  to  Ru- 
pert, and  in  the  north  the  royalists  more  than  held  their  own. 

Gloucester  was  besieged  by  the  king,  but  was  soon 
abandoned ;  and  the  two  armies  met  at  Newbury 
(in  September),  where  a  fiercely  contested  battle  lasted  an 
entire  day,  and  closed  at  night  with  no  decisive  results,  although 
the  royalists  claimed  it  as  a  victory.  Lord  Falkland,  a  warm 
friend  and  secretary  of  state  of  the  king,  was  slain.  In  former 
years  he  had  belonged  to  the  opposite  party ;  but  believing  that 
the  king  was  right,  and  being  desirous  of  peace,  he  espoused 
his  sovereign's  cause. 

27.  The  parliamentary  party  now  sought  an   alliance  with 
Scotland,  for  which  purpose  Sir  Henry  Vane  was  sent  to  Edin- 
burgh.   Vane  had  resided  in  America,  and  had  been 

Alliance  *^ 

with  the  governor  of  Massachusetts  Bay  Colony,  and  a  rep- 
Scots,  resentative  in  the  General  Court  from  Boston. 

The  Scots  were  Presbyterians,  with  an  intense  dislike  for  the 
Papacy ;  but,  in  matters  of  religious  liberty  and  toleration,  they 
were  not  as  liberal  as  the  Independents,  of  whom  Vane,  Crom- 
well, and  many  of  their  associates,  were  members. 

As  a  condition  of  alliance,  the  Scots  required  the  acceptance 
of  their  National  Covenant,  by  which  they  hoped  to  introduce 
g  J     ^  their  form  of  religion  into  England.     After  much 

league  and  discussion,  that  instrument  was  modified,  named  the 
covenant.  Solemn  League  and  Covenant,  and  adopted  by  both 
parties.  It  required  its  supporters  to  unite  for  mutual  defence, 
and  for  the  extirpation  of  popery  and  prelacy,  profaneness, 
superstition,  and  heresy ;  also  to  maintain  the  king's  authority, 
and  the  rights  and  privileges  of  Parliament.  This  covenant 
was  subscribed  to  by  more  than  two  hundred  members  of  the 


1644.] 


THE  STUART  FAMILY. 


135 


Parliament  at  Westminster,  and  ordered  to  be  signed  by  all 
under  their  authority.  This  virtually  made  Presbyterianism,  for 
the  time  being,  the  national  religion  of  the  realm. 

28.  Two  or  three  years  previous  to  these  events,  Charles  had 
sent  troops  to  Ireland  to  suppress  a  serious  insurrection  that 
had  arisen  there.     These  troops  he  now  recalled   Re.enforce- 
for  his  own  assistance  ;  but,  soon  after  their  arrival  ments. 

in  Wales,  they  were  entirely  defeated  by  Fairfax. 

As  one  of  the  fruits  of  the  recent  alliance,  an  army  of  forty 
thousand  Scots,  under  Earl  Leven,  joined  Fairfax  in  January, 
1644.  In  April  the  queen  left  Oxford  for  Exeter  as  a  means 
of  safety,  afterwards  crossed  over  to  France,  and  never  saw  her 
husband  again. 

29.  Soon  after  midsummer  (July  2)  the  opposing  forces  met 
at  Marston  Moor,  a  broad  open  plain  a  few  miles  from  the  old 
historic  city  of  York,  where  the  royalists,  under  Marston 
Rupert  and  the  Marquis  of  Newcastle,  met  with  a  Moor, 
most  signal  defeat.  Fairfax  received  efficient  and  timely  aid 
from  Oliver  Cromwell,  in  command  of  a  company  of  picked 
horsemen,  whom  he  named  Ironsides.  The  field  was  strewn 
with  more  than  four  thousand  of  the  slain ;  and  Rupert  left  in 
the  hands  of  the  victors  fifteen  hundred  prisoners,  all  his  cannon, 
and  more  than  a  hundred  banners.  Newcastle,  against  whose 
advice  Rupert  rashly  brought  on  the  engagement,  abandoned 
the  cause,  and  went  to  France. 

This  battle  left  the  authority  of  Pariiament  supreme  in  the 
north ;  although  the  Earl  of  Montrose,  who  had  espoused  the 
cause  of  Charles  in  Scotland,  gained  some  victories  over 
the  Covenanters. 

30.  In  the  west  and  south  Essex  met  with  some  reverses, 
and  nearly  another  year  was  spent  in  skirmishing  movements 
and  in  the  adjustment  of  difficulties  that  had  arisen 
between  different  factions  in  Pariiament.  The  army 
was  remodelled,  and  recruited  by  the  addition  of  many  reli- 
gious enthusiasts,  with  Sir  Thomas  Fairfax  as  general-in-chief. 


The  army. 


i3<5 


HISTORY  OF  ENGLAND, 


[»645- 


1649J 


THE  STUART  FAMILY. 


137 


PI. 


Naseby. 


Members  of  Parliament  were  made  ineligible  to  office  in  the 
army ;  but,  in  spite  of  this  rule,  Cromwell  was  appointed  lieu- 
tenant-general. 

31.  In  June,  1645,  the  last  great  battle  of  the  war  was  fought 
at  Naseby,  at  which  the  king  was  present  in  person.     His  army 

was  totally  routed,  with  a  heavy  loss  in  killed  and 
prisoners;  and  all  his  artillery,  ammunition,  and 
arms  were  left  upon  the  field.  The  parliamentary  party  had  a 
thousand  killed.  This  victory  was  really  due  to  the  rashness 
of  Rupert  and  the  superior  generalship  of  Cromwell. 

The  king's  cabinet  was  taken  with  his  baggage ;  and  in  it  were 
found  letters  which  proved  that  there  was  no  sincerity  in  any 
of  his  efforts  for  reconciliation  with  Parliament,  and  that  some 
of  his  proposals  to  secure  assistance  for  his  restoration  were 
highly  dishonorable.  This  circumstance  was  as*  disastrous  to 
his  cause  as  any  battle  he  had  lost. 

Rupert  soon  after  surrendered  Bristol,  and,  in  disgrace  with 
End  of  the  ^^  '^'"g*  ^^^  ^^e  country.  The  war  was  now  virtu- 
war,  ally  at  an  end ;  although  Montrose  continued  his 
operations  for  a  time  in  Scotland,  and  some  of  the  king's  garri- 
sons held  out  several  months  longer. 

32.  Upon  his  defeat  at  Naseby,  Charles  retired  to  Oxford ; 
and,  after  several  months  of  fruidess  attempts  to  negotiate  a 
Charles  with  peace  with  Parliament,  he  escaped  to  the  army  of 
the  Scots.  the  Scots  at  Newark,  and  thence  to  Newcastle, 
where  he  received  protection,  but  was  kept  a  prisoner  for  nine 
months. 

The  king  had  hoped  that  the  Scots  would  replace  him  upon 
his  throne ;  but  the  conditions  they  proposed  were  blindly 
rejected  by  him,  and  after  much  negotiation  he  was  surren- 
dered to  parliamentary  commissioners  upon  the  payment  of 
four  hundred  thousand  pounds.  The  transportation  of  this 
sum  in  silver  northward  from  Lx)ndon  required  thirty-six  carts 
guarded  by  an  escort  of  infantry,  and  seventeen  days'  time  for 
the  journey. 


33.  For  nearly  two  years  the  king  was  a  prisoner  of  Parlia- 
ment, during  which  time  all  attempts  at  reconciliation  with  his 
enemies  were  fruitless.  He  was  confined  first  at  chariesa 
Holmby  House,  one  of  his  own  residences,  not  far  prisoner, 
from  Naseby;  then  at  Hampton  Court,  whence  he  escaped, 
and  fled  to  the  Isle  of  Wight,  where  he  was  kept  in  the  castle, 
and  from  which  he  unsuccessfully  attempted  to  escape ;  next  at 
Hurst  Castle  on  the  mainland ;  and  finally  at  Windsor,  whence 
he  was  taken  (Jan.  19,  1649)  ^^  St.  James  Palace  in  London. 

On  the  following  day  he  was  brought  into  Westminster  Hall, 
to  be  tried  on  a  charge  of  treason  before  a  High  Court  of 
Justice  composed  of  one  hundred  and  thirty-five  Trial  and 
persons,  of  which  John  Bradshaw  was  president,  execution. 
This  court  had  been  appointed,  without  the  consent  of  the 
peers,  by  a  minority  of  the  House  of  Commons,  after  having 
expelled  some  of  their  colleagues,  and  being  under  the  influence 
of  the  parliamentary  army.  Charles  denied  the  authority  of  the 
court :  but  the  trial  proceeded ;  and  he  was  convicted,  and 
received  the  sentence  that  "the  Court,  being  satisfied  that 
Charles  Stuart  is  guilty  of  the  crimes  of  which  he  has  been 
charged,  do  adjudge  him  —  as  a  tyrant,  traitor,  murderer,  and 
public  enemy  to  the  good  people  of  the  nation  —  to  be  put  to 
death  by  severing  his  head  from  his  body." 

34.  Charles  was  no  longer  the  man  he  had  been  before  the 
civil  war.  Affliction  had  chastened  his  mind.  He  had  sought 
and  found  relief  in  the  consolations  of  religion,  submission 
and  his  conduct  during  his  trial  exalted  his  char-  and  death, 
acter  even  in  the  estimation  of  his  enemies.  He  forgave  those 
who  were  the  cause  of  his  death ;  and  (Jan.  20)  upon  a  scaf- 
fold in  front  of  Whitehall  Palace,  he  submitted  to  his  fate  with 
fortitude  and  composure.  Having  laid  his  head  on  the  block, 
one  of  the  masked  executioners  severed  it  from  his  body  at  a 
blow :  the  other,  holding  it  up,  exclaimed,  "  Behold  the  head 
of  a  traitor  ! "  while  the  sobs  and  lamentations  of  the  specta- 
tors were  mingled  with  the  acclamations  of  the  soldiery. 


138 


HISTORY  OF  ENGLAND, 


[1649. 


\i 


35.  Such  was  the  end  of  Charles  I.,  —  an  awful  lesson  to 
kings  to  watch  the  growth  of  public  opinion,  and  to  moderate 
Feelings  of  their  prctcnsions  in  conformity  with  the  reasonable 
the  nation,  dcsires  of  their  subjects.  His  execution,  however, 
was  contrary  to  the  general  feelings  of  the  nation,  and  was  the 
deed  of  comparatively  a  few  men,  actuated  by  ambition  or  the 
madness  of  the  times.  The  event  was  new  in  the  experience 
of  Englishmen,  for  never  before  had  they  seen  their  sovereign 
die  at  the  hands  of  the  public  executioner.  Even  of  the  com- 
missioners appointed  to  sit  in  judgment  on  him,  only  about 
half  could  be  induced  to  attend  his  trial.  But  the  manner  of 
his  death  has  tended  to  exalt  his  posthumous  reputation  :  for  his 
friends  have  styled  him  the  "  Royal  Martyr ; "  and  even  many 
of  his  enemies  have  been  disposed  to  look  forgivingly  upon  his 
misdeeds,  which  brought  him  to  the  scaffold. 

36.  It  was  the  misfortune  of  Charles  to  inherit  despotic 
principles  from  his  ancestors,  to  be  educated  in  a  servile  and 
Hi»  char-  profligate  court,  and  to  be  surrounded  by  wretched 
acter  and  counscUors.  He  was  one  of  the  last  men  to  learn 
ability.  jj^^  important  lesson,  which  princes  in  all  ages  have 
been  slow  to  learn,  that  the  influence  of  authority  must  ulti- 
mately bend  to  the  influence  of  opinion.  But  his  greatest 
defect,  as  well  as  the  principal  cause  of  his  ruin,  was  the  system 
of  duplicity  and  insincerity  upon  which  he  acted  in  his  public 
character.  Such  was  his  want  of  fidelity  in  his  engagements, 
that  the  Parliament  could  never  confide  in  his  promises.  But, 
weak  and  reprehensible  as  he  was  as  a  king,  he  was  by  no 
means  destitute  of  abilities.  He  was  possessed  of  considerable 
learning,  and  good  taients  as  a  speaker  and  writer,  and  in  his 
private  character  was  exemplary.  In  his  manners  he  is  repre- 
sented as  cold,  stiff,  and  formal ;  and  with  respect  to  religion, 
"  he  was,"  says  Bishop  Burnet,  "  much  inclined  to  a  middle 
way  between  Protestants  and  Papists." 

37.  The  proceedings  of  Charies  were  at  direct  variance  with 
every  principle  of  civil  and  religious  liberty ;  and,  had  they  been 


1649.] 


THE  STUART  FAMILY. 


139 


acquiesced  in  on  the  part  of  the  people,  England  might  now 
have  been  a  despotism.  Mr.  Hume,  the  great  Not  a  friend 
apologist  for  the  Stuart  family,  acknowledges  the  «*  uberty. 
services  of  the  Puritans,  "  by  whom  alone,"  according  to  him, 
"  the  precious  spark  of  liberty  had  been  kindled  and  was  pre- 
served, and  to  whom  the  English  owe  the  whole  freedom  of 
their  constitution." 

38.  The  intention  of  those  who  first  resisted  the  despotic  and 
intolerant  measures   of  the  king  and  his  court  was  doubtless 
upright  and  patriotic.    Yet  it  must  be  acknowledged  His  oppo- 
that  those  who  opposed  the  intolerance  of  the  king  oents. 

and  of  Laud,  had  themselves  no  consistent  principles  of  religious 
hberty.  In  the  progress  of  the  contest,  party  spirit  and  fanati- 
cism were  called  into  powerful  operation ;  and  the  leaders  of 
the  popular  party  in  many  cases  acted  on  the  principle  that  the 
end  sanctifies  the  means,  and  appeared  to  think  themselves 
absolved  from  all  obligations  of  honor  and  honesty.  Right  and 
justice  were  outraged  by  those  who  professed  to  have  drawn 
the  sword  in  their  defence.  But  such  inconsistency  is  charac- 
teristic of  revolutions. 

39.  Charies  left  six  children,  of  whom  two,  Charles  and 
James,  became  kings  of  England;  and  Mary,  who  married 
William  II.,  Prince  of  Orange,  became  the  mother 
of  William  III.  of  England.  Henrietta  Maria 
married  Philip,  Duke  of  Orleans,  a  brother  of  Louis  XIV.  of 
France. 

40.  Vandyke,  a  Flemish  artist,  and  probably  the  most  cele- 
brated portrait-painter  of  modem  times  except  Titian,  resided 
in  London  during  this  reign,  and  was  patronized  by  ^^^^^ 
Charies ;  and  it  was  through  him  that  Charies  ob- 
tained the  celebrated  Cartoons  of  Raphael,  representing  Scrip- 
ture scenes,  and  now  in  South  Kensington  Museum,  London. 
Rubens,  another  eminent  Flemish  painter,  came  to  the  court  of 
Charles  as  an  ambassador  from  Spain.  The  ceilings  of  the 
Whitehall  Palace  banqueting-hall  (still  in  existence)  are  deco- 
rated with  pictures  on  canvas  by  him,  painted  abroad. 


His  family. 


140 


HISTORY  OF  ENGLAND, 


[1649. 


h'* 


41.  In  1643  ^^  famous  Westminster  Assembly  of  Divines, 
mostly  Presbyterians,  met  in  Ix)ndon,  and  continued  its  sessions 
Westminster  about  six  years.  This  body  prepared  a  directory 
Assembly.  for  public  worship,  a  confession  of  faith,  and  two 
catechisms,  all  of  which,  with  slight  modifications,  are  still  the 
standards  of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  The  Shorter  Catechism 
was  introduced  into  New  England,  and  became  a  part  of  the 
New-England  Primer,  which  was  used  for  primary  instruction  in 
Puritan  families. 


42.  Roger  Williams,   a   Puritan   reformer,   emigrated    from 
England  to  America  in   1631,  where  he  became 
conspicuous  in  the  early  history  of  Massachusetts, 
and  the  founder  of  the  Colony  of  Rhode  Island. 


Williams. 


Posts. 


43.  In  1635  ^^  postmaster-general  was  ordered  to  establish 
"  a  running  post  between  London  and  Edinburgh 
(a  distance  of  over  two  hundred  miles),  to  go  night 
and  day,  and  come  back  in  six  days; "  and  in  1644  a  weekly 
conveyance  of  letters  was  ordered  into  all  parts  of  the  nation. 


No  kins:. 


CHAPTER   III. 

THE   COMMONWEALTH,   OR  PROTECTORATE. 

1649  to  1660,  —  II  years. 
Oliver  Cromwell. 

WITHIN  a  few  hours  after  the  execution  of  Charles  I., 
a  sergeant-at-arms  appeared  in  the  streets  of  London, 
and  proclaimed  that  the  House  of  Commons  had 
voted  that  whoever  should  proclaim  the  Prince  of 
Wales,  or  any  other  one,  king  or  chief  magistrate  of  England, 
without  the  consent  of  Parliament,  should  be  deemed  a  traitor. 
Not  long  afterwards  the  statue  of  the  late  king  in  the  Exchange 
was  thrown  down;  and  on  its  pedestal  was  inscribed,  "Exit 
tyrannus,  regum  ultimus  "  ("The  tyrant  is  gone,  the  last  of  the 
kings ").         . 

The  Commons  voted  to  abolish  the  office  of  King  and  the 
House  of  Lords  as  "  unnecessary,  burdensome,  and  dangerous 
to  the  liberty,  safety,  and  public  interests  of  the  Monarchy 
people,"  and  caused  proclamation  to  be  made  that  abolished, 
the  supreme  authority  of  the  nation  resided  in  the  representa- 
tives of  the  people.     A  republican  form  of  government  was 
established,  and  a  Council  of  State  appointed  as  the  Republican 
executive  branch  of  the  government.    Of  this  coun-  eovcmment. 
cil,  John  Bradshaw  was  president,  and  John  Milton  the  poet, 
secretary.     Only  a  few  royalists  (less  than  a  half-dozen)  were 
executed,  and  in  matters  of  religion  considerable  toleration  was 
allowed. 

2.  After  the  execution  of  Laud,  episcopacy  had  been  abol- 

141 


142 


HISTORY  OF  ENGLAND. 


[1649. 


% 


ished,  and  Presbyterian  ism  substituted  in  its  stead.  But  the 
The  army  in  Presbyterian  interest  soon  began  to  decline,  and 
power.  the  Independents  gained  the  ascendency ;  and  the 

power  which  the  Padiament  had  wrested  from  the  king  was  at 
length,  by  the  management  of  Cromwell,  transferred  to  the* 
army.  Before  the  trial  of  Charles,  measures  had  been  taken  to 
exclude  the  Presbyterians  from  Parliament ;  and  that  part  of 
the  House  which  remained,  distinguished  by  the  ridiculous 
name  of  the  "  Rump,"  was  composed  of  Independents,  under 
the  influence  of  Cromwell.  In  this  manner  the  Presbyterians, 
who  had  overturned  the  church  and  the  throne,  fell  victims  to 
the  military  power  which  they  had  used  as  the  instrument  for 
accomphshing  their  designs. 

3.  The  attention  of  the  new  government  was  early  called  to 

the  condition  of  Ireland,  where  civil  war  was  imminent  or  was 

Condition  of    already  prevailing.     The  greater  part  of  the  peo- 

ireiand.  pig  ^ere   royalists,  and   generally   Catholics   also. 

Through  the  Marquis  of  Ormond,  their  leader,  they  had  invited 

the  late  king's  son,  Prince  Charles,  —  then  on  the  Continent,  — 

to  come  to  Ireland,  and  be  proclaimed  king.     They  were  in 

possession  of  all  the .  principal  places   of  the   island,  except 

Dublin  and  Derry ;  and  Prince  Rupert  was  hovering  about  St. 

George's  Channel  with  a  large  fleet.     Towards  the  Protestants, 

English  and  Irish,  this  party  entertained  the  bitterest  hatred, 

and  had  inaugurated  among  them  a  complete  reign  of  terror. 

4.  In  this  emergency  Cromwell  was  appointed  general-in- 
chief  and  lord-lieutenant ;  and  with  his  son-in-law  Ireton,  and 
Cromwell's  nine  thousand  troops,  he  set  out  for  Ireland.  While 
campaiffn.  he  tarried  briefly  at  Bristol,  a  portion  of  the  army 
preceded  him,  and  relieved  Dublin,  which  had  been  besieged 
by  Ormond.  Cromwell's  arrival  caused  much  rejoicing  among 
the  people,  who  were  in  constant  fear  and  alarm,  as  they  had 
good  reason  to  be  when  they  recalled  the  Ulster  massacre  in 
1 64 1,  when  men,  women,  and  children  were  ruthlessly  butch- 
ered, and  so  many  homes  were  made  desolate. 


1650.]     THE  COAfMONWEAL  TH,  OR  PRO  TEC  TOR  A  TE.     1 43 

Cromwell's  first  movement  was  against  Drogheda,  which  had 
a  garrison  of  two  thousand  men ;  and,  when  a  surrender  was 
refused,  they  were  summarily  put  to  the  sword,  piaces 
Cromwell  himself  reported  that  only  a  few  escaped.  taJ'en- 
Dundalk  and  Wexford  shared  a  similar  fate ;  and  in  this  way 
for  ten  months  he  went  through  the  land.  Where  the  terror  of 
his  name  had  not  gone  before  him  to  induce  submission,  the 
sword  did  its  quick  work  with  terrible  effect.  Those  who  thought 
such  warfare  revengeful  were  told  by  Cromwell  that  the  hand 
of  Providence  was  in  this  visitation,  and  that  "this  present 
bitterness  would  save  the  eff'usion  of  blood  "  in  future. 

During  this  campaign  he  destroyed  or  greatly  damaged  many 
of  the  fine  old  castles  whose  ivy-covered  ruins  form  ^^^^^^^ 
such  a  picturesque  feature  in  the  scenery  of  Ireland. 
The  commander-in-chief  was  soon  recalled  to  repress  hostile 
movements  in  Scotland. 

5.  The  Parliament  of  Scotland  took  no  part  in  the  trial  of  the 
late  king,  but  soon  afterwards  began  to  negotiate  with  his  son 
to  be  proclaimed  as  Charles  II.      Montrose,  the  p^nce 
stanch  rovalist,  and  hater  of  the  Covenanters,  had   Charles  and 

,        ^        .  r         11-  tlie  Scots. 

left  Scotland  for  the  Contment  after  the  king  was 
taken  prisoner;  and  now  young  Charles,  in  the  Netherlands, 
commissioned  him  to  raise  troops,  and  re-enter  Scotland.  He 
did  so,  but  was  soon  taken  prisoner,  and  executed.  Charles 
entered  Scotland,  after  being  compelled  to  sigh  the  Covenant, 
and,  when  going  into  Aberdeen,  saw  the  limbs  of  Montrose 
fastened  upon  the  gateway  above  his  head. 

6.  Cromwell  was  appointed  captain-general  of  the  army  for 
the  campaign  in  Scotland,  and  immediately  marched  towards 
Edinburgh.  In  September,  1650,  he  was  at  Dunbar,  cromweii. 
with  twelve  thousand  men,  surrounded  by  twenty-  Dunbar, 
seven  thousand  Scots  under  Lesley,  who  attacked  him  vig- 
orously; but  Cromwell's  troops  fought  with  such  skill  and 
desperation,  that  the  Scots  were  completely  routed,  leaving 
three  thousand  dead  upon  the  field,  and  losing  ten  thousand 


144 


mSTORY  OF  ENGLAND. 


['65». 


I' ' 
fi 


\\  i 


Worcester. 


prisoners,  some  of  whom  were  sent  to  New  England,  and  sold 
into  penal  servitude.  Cromwell  entered  Edinburgh,  and  laid 
siege  to  the  great  Castle,  which  surrendered  after  a  stout  resist- 
ance of  three  months. 

7.  Charles  was  crowned  at   Scone  in  January,  165 1,  and, 
after  a  varied  campaign  of  several  months,  marched  southward 

into  England  with  an  army  of  eleven  thousand  men. 

Cromwell  followed  with  ten  thousand  troops,  and 
overtook  him  at  Worcester,  on  the  anniversary  of  the  battle 
of  Dunbar,  gave  him  battle,  and  completely  routed  him. 
Charleses  army  were  nearly  all  killed  or  taken  prisoners.  Crom- 
well called  this  victory  his  crowning  mercy,  and  returned  in 
triumph  to  London.  Gen.  Monk  was  afterwards  made  com- 
mander of  the  forces  in  Scotland,  and  brought  the  country 
into  a  state  of  subjection  to  the  government. 

8.  Young  Charles  escaped  with  difficulty.  He  assumed  the 
disguise  of  a  peasant,  journeying  in  the  least-frequented  roads, 
Charles  II.  travelling  only  in  the  night,  and  passing  the  day  in 
a  fugitive.  obscure  cottages,  where  he  was  unknown,  and  where 
his  food  was  generally  a  little  coarse  bread  and  milk.  On  one 
occasion  he  sought  safety  by  concealing  himself  for  a  day  in 
the  top  of  a  large  oak.  In  that  precarious  situation  he  saw 
and  heard  his  pursuers,  as  they  passed  by,  talking  of  him, 
and  expressing  a  wish  that  they  might  discover  the  place  of 
his  concealment.  After  two  months  of  romantic  adventure, 
he  found  an  opportunity  of  escaping  to  France. 

9.  The  republican  Parliament  passed  (1651)  the  famous 
Navigation  Act,  which,  by  prohibiting  the  importation  of  all 
War  with  foreign  merchandise,  except  in  English  bottoms  or 
Holland.  in  those  of  the  country  producing  the  commodities, 
tended  greatly  to  promote  the  naval  superiority  of  Great  Britain. 
This  act,  the  object  of  which  was  to  wrest  the  carrying-trade 
of  Europe  from  the  Dutch,  was  the  cause  of  a  war  between 
England  and  Holland,  which  was  declared  by  Pariiament  in 
1652.    The  contest  was  carried  on  by  sea,  by  Admirals  Van 


1652.]     THE  COMMONWEALTH,  OR  PROTECTORATE,     145 

Tromp,  De  Ruyter,  and  De  Witt,  on  the  part  of  the  Dutch,  and 
by  Admiral  Blake  of  the  English  fleet.  Van  Tromp,  with  a 
fleet  of  eighty  vessels  and  ten  fire-ships,  attacked  Naval 
the  English  fleet  of  thirty-seven  ships  in  the  Downs  tatties, 
(in  November),  apd  gained  a  victory  after  a  day  of  hard  fight- 
ing. Van  Tromp  was  so  elated  with  his  success,  that  he  sailed 
through  the  Channel  and  into  the  Thames,  carrying  a  broom 
at  masthead ;  thus  indicating  his  determination  to  sweep  the 
English  fleet  from  the  ocean. 

During  the  winter  another  engagement  took  place,  lasting 
three  days,  in  which  Blake  was  victorious,  losing  only  one  ves- 
sel, and  sinking  eleven  of  the  enemy's  ships.  The  war  was 
finally  terminated  triumphantly  for  the  English,  by  a  hard- 
fought  battle,  in  July,  in  which  Van  Tromp  was  killed,  and  thirty 
of  his  ships  destroyed,  while  the  English  lost  but  two  vessels. 

10.  The  Parliament,  which  had  been  in  session  twelve  years, 
known  by  the  name  of  the  "  Long  Parliament,"  had  lost  the 
confidence  of  the  people.     It  had  been  subservient  Cromwell 
to  the  views  of  Cromwell ;   but,  having  at  length  and  Long 
become  jealous   of  him,  it  formed  the  design  of  Parliament, 
reducing  the  army,  intending  by  that  rtieans  to  diminish  his 
power.    Cromwell  perceiving  their  object,  and  being  secure  of 
the  attachment  of  the  army,  resolved  on  seizing  the  sovereign 
power.    While  sitting  in  a  council  of  officers,  on  being  informed 
of  an  unfavorable  reply  of  Parliament  to  a  petition  which  they 
had  presented,  he  rose  up  on  a  sudden  with  an  appearance  of 
fury,  and,  turning  to  Major-Gen.  Vernon,  cried  out  that  he  was 
compelled  to  do  a  thing  which  made  the  very  hairs  of  his  head 
stand  on  end.    Taking  with  him  three  hundred  soldiers  to  the 
door,  he  speedily  entered  the  House,  with  marks  of  violent 
indignation  in  his  countenance  ;  and,  after  listening  a  while  to  . 
the  debates,  he  started  up,  and  began  to  load  the  Parliament 
with  reproaches.     Then,  stamping  upon  the  floor,  he  gave  a 
signal  for  his  soldiers  to  enter,  and,  addressing  himself  to  the 
members,  "  For  shame  ]  "  said   he,     "  Get  you  gone  \    Give 


146 


HISTORY  OF  ENGLAND, 


['653 


place  to  honester  men  !  I  tell  you  you  are  no  longer  a  parlia- 
ment :  the  Lord  has  done  with  you  ! "  Having  turned  out  all 
the  members,  he  ordered  the  doors  to  be  locked,  and,  putting 
the  keys  in  his  pocket,  returned  to  the  palace. 

11.  In  this  manner  Cromwell  seized  the  reins  of  government. 
But  he  was  willing  to  give  his  subjects  a  parliament,  not,  indeed, 
Cromwell,  elected  in  the  usual  form,  but  modelled  on  principles 
Protector.  entirely  new.  The  ministers  took  the  sense  of  the 
"  Congregational  churches  "  in  the  several  counties,  and  returns 
were  made  containing  the  names  of  such  persons  as  were 
deemed  qualified  for  this  high  trust.  Out  of  these  the  council, 
in  the  presence  of  Cromwell,  selected  a  hundred  and  sixty- 
three  representatives,  to  each  of  whom  a  writ  of  summons  was 
sent,  requiring  his  attendance;  and  on  the  appointed  day  a 
hundred  and  twenty  of  them  presented  themselves  in  the 
council-chamber  at  Whitehall.  This  body,  composed  of  men 
who  were  deeply  imbued  with  the  fanaticism  of  the  times,  is 
known  by  the  name  of  the  "  Little  Parliament ; "  and  is  also 
often  called  "  Barebone's  Parliament,"  from  a  leading  member, 
a  leather-dresser,  whose  name,  given  according  to  the  taste  of 
the  age,  was  Praise-God  Barebone.  The  Little  Parliament 
assembled  on  the  4th  of  July,  1653,  and  was  dissolved  in  the 
following  December.  At  the  time  of  its  dissolution  a  new  con- 
stitution was  published,  and  Cromwell  assumed  the  title  and 
office  of  Protector,  having  now  obtained  the  great  object  of  his 
ambition,  —  the  station  and  authority,  though  not  the  title,  of 
king.  He  was  assisted  by  a  council  of  twenty-one  members ; 
and,  instead  of  the  title  of  Majesty,  he  received  that  of  High- 
ness. He  afterwards  aspired  to  the  title  of  king,  which  was  at 
length  tendered  to  him,  yet  under  such  circumstances  of  oppo- 
sition and  danger  that  he  thought  proper  to  decline  it. 

12.  The  government  which  he  had  usurped  he  administered 
with  unrivalled  energy  atid  ability,  and  he  was  the  most  able 
and  powerful  potentate  of  his  time  in  Europe.  Abroad,  his 
fleets  and  armies  were  victorious ;  and  the  Island  of  Jamaica, 


/ 


1658.]     THE  COMMONWEALTH,  OR  PROTECTORATE,     147 

and  the  strong  town  of  Dunkirk  in  the  north-eastern  part  of 
France,  were  taken  from  the  Spaniards.     At  home   „^ 

,       J    -         J         J  -111  Character  of 

he  defeated  and  punished  the  conspiracies  formed  his  admin- 
against  him,  granted  religious  toleration,  and  caused  »stration. 
justice  to  be  ably  and  impartially  administered  by  upright  and 
learned  judges.  He  also  made  himself  to  be  respected  and 
dreaded  by  the  neighboring  nations,  and  his  friendship  to  be 
sought  by  every  foreign  power ;  and  the  splendor  of  his  character 
and  exploits  rendered  the  short  period  of  the  protectorate  one 
of  the  most  brilliant  in  English  history.  Nor  were  the  rights  of 
England,  under  the  reign  of  any  other  sovereign,  more  re- 
spected abroad. 

But,  notwithstanding  all  his  efforts,  his  enemies  were  numer- 
ous among  both  the  royalists  and  republicans.  His  domestic 
afflictions  were  also  many  and  severe.  A  son  was  Affliction 
killed  in  battle;  and  a  favorite  married  daughter  anddeaih. 
died  of  a  lingering  disease ;  and  another  married  daughter  was 
so  extreme  in  her  ideas  of  liberty,  that  she  did  not  wish  to  see 
any  one  person  at  the  head  of  the  government,  not  even  her 
own  father.  He  passed  the  last  part  of  his  life  in  constant  fear 
of  assassination,  wore  armor  under  his  clothes,  kept  pistols  in 
his  pocket,  and  never  slept  more  than  three  nights  in  the  same 
chamber.  At  last,  after  having  usurped  the  government  nine 
years,  he  died  of  a  tertian  ague  (1658),  in  the  sixtieth  year 
of  his  age. 

13.  Cromwell  was  one  of  the  greatest  and  most  extraordi- 
nary men  that  England  has  produced ;  and,  till  the  rise  of 
Bonaparte,  his  name  was  without  a  parallel  in  His  abilities 
modern  Europe.  Men  were  accustomed  to  look  and  career, 
with  a  feeling  of  awe  upon  the  individual,  who,  without  the  aid 
of  birth,  wealth,  or  connections,  was  able  by  the  force  of  his 
talents  to  seize  the  government  of  three  powerful  kingdoms, 
and  impose  the  yoke  of  servitude  upon  the  necks  of  the  very 
men  who  had  fought  in  his  company,  to  emancipate  themselves 
from  the  arbitrary  sway  of  their  hereditary  sovereign. 


I4S 


HISTORY  OF  ENGLAND, 


[1658. 


He  owed  his  elevation  to  his  influence  with  the  army ;  and 
the  character  of  that  body  and  that  of  their  leader  were,  in  a 
great  measure,  mutually  formed  by  each  other.  The  officers 
and  soldiers  made  high  professions  of  religion.  Religious  exer- 
cises were  of  as  frequent  occurrence  as  those  of  military  duty. 
The  generals  opened  their  proceedings  in  council  by  prayer ; 
and  among  them  Cromwell  was  pre-eminent  in  spiritual  gifts, 
and  was  regarded  by  them  as  the  favorite  of  Heaven. 

The  name  of  Cromwell  has  been  subjected  to  the  almost 
universal  charge  of  unbounded  ambition  and  deep  hypocrisy. 

His  place  ^"^  ^^  ^^P^^  ^^  ^^"^^  ^^^  lessened  somewhat  the 
in  history.  severity  of  judgment  passed  upon  his  acts  and  mo- 
tives, and  many  regard  the  principles  for  which  he  contended 
as  the  foundation  of  constitutional  liberty  as  enjoyed  in  Eng- 
land at  the  present  day. 

14.  Cromwell,  in  private  life,  in  the  several  relations  of  a 
husband,  a  father,  a  neighbor,  and  a  friend,  was  exemplary. 
Private  Yiom  his  early  days  to  the  close  of  his  career,  reli- 
character.  gion,  or  religious  enthusiasm,  formed  a  distinguished 
trait  in  his  character ;  and  it  frequently  manifested  itself  in  the 
senate  and  in  the  field,  and  also  in  his  domestic  retirement. 
Some  writers  have  maintained  that  he  was  a  dissembler  in  reli- 
gion as  well  as  in  politics;  "but  this  supposition,"  says  Dr. 
Lingard,  "  is  contradicted  by  the  uniform  tenor  of  his  life." 

15.  Richard  Cromwell,  after  the  death  of  his  father,  was 
proclaimed  protector.  But  the  contrast  between  the  father  and 
Richard  son  was  vcry  great.  Richard  was  neither  a  states- 
Cromweii.  man  nor  a  soldier,  had  no  experience  in  public 
business,  and  possessed  feeble  talents  and  little  ambition ;  and 
after  a  few  months  he  resigned  the  office,  and  retired  to  private 
life.  A  state  of  anarchy  succeeded,  when  Gen.  Monk,  the  mil- 
itary commander  in  Scotland  marched  his  army  into  England, 
and  crushed  the  contending  factions.  A  parliament  was  assem- 
bled; and  on  the  29th  of  May,  1660,  Charles  II.,  now  thirty 
ears  of  age,  was  restored  to  the  throne  of  his  father.  This 
event  is  generally  called  the  "  Restoration."  ;y 


CHAPTER   IV. 


THE   STUART   FAMILY  (PART   H.). 

FROM  THE  END  OF  THE  COMMONWEALTH  TO  THE  HOUSE  OF 

BRUNSWICK. 


1660  to  1714,  —  54  years. 


Charles  II. 


James  II. 


William  and  Mary. 


Anne. 


THE  nation,  indiscreetly  trusting  to  the  general  professions 
of  Charles  II.,  suffered  him  to  assume  the  crown 
(1660)  without  imposing  on  him  any  conditions ;  Accession  of 
and  his  reign  and  that  of  James  II.  exhibit  a  repe-  Charles  11. 
tition  of  struggles  similar  to  those  which  had  occurred  under 
the  first  two  princes  of  the  house  of  Stuart.  The  first  impres- 
sions with  regard  to  the  new  king  were  favorable.  His  man- 
ners were  easy  and  familiar,  but  his  habits  were  indolent; 
and  experience  soon  proved  his  character  to  be  profligate  and 
worthless. 

2.  The  change  in  the  public  sentiment  observable  at  this 
period  is  not  a  little  remarkable.  The  same  people  who  but 
a  few  years  before  were  so  jealous  of  liberty,  and  pubuc  gen^i- 
exclaimed  so  loudly  against  monarchical  govern-  ment 
ment,  are  now  exhibited  as  soliciting  with  eagerness  *^^*°«^*^- 
the  return  of  arbitrary  power.  A  number  of  the  regicides 
were  condemned  and  executed ;  and  the  bodies  of  Cromwell, 
Ireton  his  son-in-law,-  Bradshaw,  and  the  naval  hero  Blake,  were 
dug  up  from  their  graves,  and  hanged  upon  the  gallows,  to 
gratify  the  vindictive  spirit  of  the  king  and  the  cavaliers. 
High-Church  or  Tory  principles,  and  the  servile  doctrines  of 
passive  obedience  and  non-resistance,  now  came  in  vogue.    An 

M9 


I50 


HISTORY  OF  ENGLAND, 


[1662. 


1685.] 


THE  STUART  FAMILY. 


151 


I 


act  of  Uniformity  in  religion  was  passed  (1662),  by  which 
about  two  thousand  nonconforming  ministers  were  deprived  of 
their  livings ;  and  another  attempt  was  made  to  establish  episco- 
pacy in  Scotland. 

3.  The  prodigality  of  Charles  kept  him  always  in  want. 
Dunkirk,  which  had  been  acquired  by  Cromwell,  he  sold  to  the 
Charles's  French  for  four  hundred  thousand  pounds,  which 
prodigality,  j^e  soon  Squandered  upon  his  pleasures.  He  en- 
tered into  hostilities  with  the  Dutch,  which  were  carried  on  for 
some  time  with  spirit.  While  this  war  was  raging,  London 
Fire  and  was  visitcd  (1665)  by  a  terrible  plague,  which 
carried  off  about  ninety  thousand  inhabitants ;  and 


plague. 


that  was  followed  the  next  year  by  a  fire,  by  which  seventy-nine 
churches  and  many  other  public  buildings,  and  more  than 
thirteen  thousand  houses  (comprising  about  two-thirds  of  the 
metropolis),  were  reduced  to  ashes. 

4.  In  consequence  of  the  unsuccessful  issue  of  the  war 
(which  was  terminated  by  the  peace  of  Breda,  1667),  and  of 
Dissatiafac-  the  sale  of  Dunkirk,  the  government  became  un- 
****"•  popular ;  and  the  celebrated  Lord  Clarendon,  on 

whom  the  odium  was  chiefly  cast,  was  banished,  and  passed  the 
remainder  of  his  life  in  France.  After  the  fall  of  Clarendon 
the  government  became  more  unprincipled ;  and  the  five  minis- 
ters by  whom  it  was  conducted  have  been  stigmatized  by  the 
term  of  "Cabal,"  so  called  from  the  initial  letters  of  their 
names,  Clifford,  Ashley,  Buckingham,  Arlington,  Lauderdale. 

5.  The  Duke  of  York  (afterwards  James  IL),  who  had  now 
the  chief  influence  at  court,  was  an  avowed  Catholic  :  Charles, 
Duke  of  so  far  as  he  had  any  sense  of  religion,  was  a  con- 

^**'*'*  cealed  one,  and  had  the  baseness  to  receive  from 

Louis  XIV.  of  France  a  pension  of  two  hundred  thousand 
pounds  a  year  for  the  purpose  of  establishing  the  Catholic 
religion  and  despotic  power  in  England.  A  general  consterna- 
tion for  the  safety  of  the  Protestant  religion  and  of  public 
liberty  prevailed  j  and  the  latter  part  of  Charles's  reign  exhibits 


Plots. 


an  uninterrupted  series  of  attacks  upon  the  lives,  liberty,  and 
property  of  his  subjects,  and  a  disgusting  scene  of  party  in- 
trigues, and  of  plots  and  conspiracies.    Yet  it  was  Habeas 
at  this  period  that  Parliament  passed  the  Habeas  Corpus. 
Corpus  Act,  —  a  most  important  security  to  the  subject  against 
personal  oppression. 

6.  A  pretended  Popish  plot  to  murder  the  king,  disclosed  by 
the  infamous  Titus  Oates,  occasioned  an  unjust  execution  of 
Lord  Stafford  and  some  other  Catholics.  Another 
pretended  conspiracy  in  favor  of  reform  was  called 
the  "  Rye- House  Plot,"  from  the  place  where  the  conspirators 
held  their  meetings,  in  which  those  eminent  patriots  Lord  Rus- 
sell and  Algernon  Sidney  were  accused  of  being  concerned, 
and,  on  testimony  supposed  to  be  perjured,  were  condemned 
and  beheaded. 

7.  The  character  of  the  court,  as  well  as  that  of  the  king, 
was  notorious  for  its  profligacy ;  and  it  had  a  most  unhappy 
influence  upon  the  nation.     A  general  dissoluteness  character  of 
of  manners  characterized  the  reign.     All  appear-  court  and 
ance  of  devotion,  and  all  regularity  of  morals,  were  °*****°* 

jegarded  as  puritanical,  and  exploded  as  unfashionable.  Charles 
IL  was  a  man  of  wit  and  good-humor,  and  possessed  such 
talents  as  enabled  him  to  shine  among  his  gay  and  profligate 
companions ;  but  he  had  no  qualities  as  a  man  or  a  king  that 
entitle  him  to  the  respect  or  gratitude  of  posterity. 

8.  Among  the  distinguished  men  who  flourished  in  the  reign 
of  Charles  were  John  Milton,  the  author  of  "  Paradise  Lost ; " 
Sir  Matthew  Hale,  the  incorruptible  chief  justice ;  oistin- 
John  Bunyan,  the  author  of  "  Pilgrim's  Progress ; "  guishedmen. 
Sir  Christopher  Wren,  the  architect  of  St.  Paul's  Cathedral  in 
London ;  the  poet  Dryden ;  John  Locke,  the  philosopher  and 
metaphysician ;  and  Sir  Isaac  Newton,  the  discoverer  of  the  law 
of  gravitation.  Halley  the  astronomer  made  the  first  success- 
ful prediction  of  the  return  of  a  comet  (the  one  bearing  his 
name)  in  1681. 


152 


ir/STORY  OF  F.NGLAKD. 


r>6"5. 


f 


Tlie  astronomical  observatory  at  Greenwich  was  founded  l)y 
Charles  II. ;  also  the  Royal  Society  for  the  Promotion  of  Sci- 
ence, —  an  association  which  soon  included  among  its  members 
many  scholars  who  became  eminent  in  the  various  departments 
of  learning. 

g.  James  II.,  who  succeeded  (1685)  his  brother  Charles, 
was  inferior  to  him  in  talents,  but  much  more  devoted  to  busi- 

^T\\  °^  ^^^'  ^^^  ^^^  predecessors  of  the  Stuart  family, 
"*  ^^  was  arbitrary  and  impolitic ;  and  his  short  and 
mglorious  reign  was  mainly  employed  in  attempts  to  establish 
ihe  Catholic  religion  and  despotic  power.  On  assuming  the 
government  he  expressed  his  contempt  for  the  authority  of  Par- 
liament, and  his  detemiination  to  exercise  an  unlimited  despot- 
ism. Ahhough  the  Catholics  at  this  time  formed  but  a  very 
small  proportion  of  the  people  of  England,  yet  he  undertook 
to  set  aside  the  Protestant  religion,  and,  instead  of  it,  to  estab- 
lish the  Roman-CathoHc  faith. 

10.  The  Duke  of  Monmouth,  a  natural  son  of  Charies  II 
who   during  the  preceding  reign   had  defeated  the  Scottish 
Monmouth     Covenanters  at  Bothwell  Bridge,  having  now  excited 

Jeffreys.  ^  rebellion  with  a  view  to  seize  the  crown,  was  de- 
feated, taken  prisoner,  and  beheaded.  The  most  inhuman 
ngor  was  exercised  against  those  who  favored  him.  The  atro- 
cious Chief  Justice  Jeffreys,  the  most  noted  as  an  unscrupulous 
and  profligate  judge  in  English  history,  exercised  the  most  un- 
relenting cruelty.     He  gloried  in  his  barbarity,  and  boasted  that 

r  wl  ^^^"^  "^"""^  """"  '^^^^  ^"^  ^^^^^  J"^g^  since  the  time 
of  Wilham  the  Conqueror;  and  his  bloody  career  was  styled 
by  James,  with  unfeeling  jocularity,  "Jeffreys'  campaign." 

II.  The  efforts  of  James  in  favor  of  the  Catholic  religion 
were,  for  a  considerable  time,  attended  with  success ;  but  hav- 

TiISb"''""     '"^  ""^"^^"^  ^^"^  ^''^""P'  ^^  ^^  committed  to  the 
•  Tower  for  refusing  to  read  a  proclamation  suspend- 

'^^tllvt^lt'^^'''^  ^"^^  ^"   ^^^^^  to  conform  to 
the  Established  Church,  the  passive  spirit  of  the  nation  disap- 


1688.] 


THE  STUART  FAMILY, 


153 


peared,  and  a  general  indignation  was  roused.  William,  Prince 
of  Orange,  who  had  married  Mary,  the  eldest  daughter  of  James, 
was  invited  over,  and  landed  at  Torbay  with  an  army,  in  order 
to  assume  the  government.  The  principal  nobility  and  officers 
soon  joined  his  standard ;  and  James,  being  deserted  by  the 
people,  and  even  by  his  own  children,  escaped  to  France,  where 
he  passed  the  remainder  of  his  life.  A  convention-parliament 
declared  the  king's  flight  an  abdication,  and  settled  the  crown 
upon  William  III.  and  Mary.  This  event  is  styled  by 
British  writers  the  glorious  Revolution  of  1 688. 

12.  The   English   navy  became    quite    large  and  efficient 
during  the  reign  of  James,  who,  before  he  came  to 

the  throne,  had  gained  some  distinction  as  a  naval  "^^^  °*''^' 
commander.    When  Duke  of  York,  he  first  invented  a  system  of 
marine  signals.    The  national  anthem,  "  God  save  the  King," 
was  composed  and  first  sung  in  the  reign  of  this  sovereign. 

13.  The  British  Constitution  now  became,  in  many  important 
points,  fixed  and  determined.  The  Protestant  succession  was 
secured,  religious  toleration  granted,  and  Presby-  Principles 
terianism  re-established  in  Scotland.  A  declaration  established, 
was  made,  fixing  the  rights  of  the  subject  and  the  prerogative 
of  the  king.  Some  of  the  most  important  articles  are  the 
following  :  i.  The  king  cannot  suspend  the  laws  or  their  execu- 
tion. 2.  He  cannot  levy  money  without  the  consent  of  Parlia- 
ment. 3.  The  subjects  have  a  right  to  petition  the  crown.  4.  A 
standing  army  cannot  be  kept  in  time  of  peace,  but  with  the 
consent  of  Pariiament.  5.  Elections  and  parliamentary  debates 
must  be  free,  and  pariiaments  must  be  frequently  assembled. 

Archbishop  Sancroft,  seven  other  bishops,  and  a  considerable 
number  of  the  clergy,  who  held  the  doctrines  of  passive  obe- 
dience and  the  divine  right  of  kings  and  bishops,  looking  upon 
James  as  still  their  lawful  king,  refused  to  take  the  oath  of  alle- 
giance to  William,  and  were  deprived  of  their  stations.  From 
this  circumstance  they  were  styled  Non-jurors,  High-Church- 
men, and  Jacobites. 


154 


mSTORY  OF  ENGLAND. 


14.  Ireland  still  adhered  to  James,  and  the  Parliament  of  that 
country  declared  William  a  usurper.  Being  assisted  by  Louis 
Opposition  XIV.  of  France,  James  landed  with  some  French 
to  William,  forces  in  Ireland,  where  he  was  joined  by  a  large 
army;  but  he  was  defeated  by  William  at  the  River  Boyne, 
and  the  country  submitted  to  the  new  king.  A  large  fleet 
which  Louis  XIV.  had  prepared  in  favor  of  James  was  destroyed 
by  Admiral  Russell  ofl"  Cape  la  Hogue ;  and  by  the  Peace  of 
Ryswick,  which  followed  (1697),  the  title  of  William  to  the 
crown  was  acknowledged. 

15.  William  was  a  man  of  feeble  constitution,  but  of  distin- 
guished talents,  especially  in  war,  to  which  his  taste  strongly  in- 
WiUiam's  clined  him  ;  and  he  was  esteemed  one  of  the  great- 
character,  est  commanders  of  his  age.  He  was  rather  fitted 
to  command  respect  than  affection,  as  he  excelled  more  in  the 
severer  than  in  the  milder  virtues,  being  wholly  devoted  to 
business,  and  his  manners  being  cold,  grave,  and  reserved.  He 
was  a  firm  friend  to  civil  and  religious  liberty.  But  he  was  less 
popular  with  his  subjects  than  some  other  sovereigns  of  far  less 
merit.  Mary,  his  queen,  and  partner  of  the  throne,  who  -died 
seven  years  before  him,  was  a  woman  distinguished  for  her 
virtues. 

16.  The  Bank  of  England  was  founded  during  William's 
Bank  of  reign ;  and  the  national  debt  had  its  origin  about 
England.  ^j^g  g^j^^  ^^^^^  occasioned  by  borrowing  money  to 
meet  the  great  expense  of  foreign  wars. 

17.  The  material  progress  of  the  country  during  the  seven- 
teenth century  was  considerable,  and  the  condition  of  the 
Progress  of  lower  classcs  was  improved.  This  was  particulariy 
the  century,  ^ruc  after  the  period  of  the  Commonwealth.  A  dis- 
tinguished English  merchant,  who  was  also  chairman  of  the 
East-India  Company,  wrote,  near  the  close  of  that  century, 
"that  in  1688  there  were  on  the  'Change  more  men  worth  ten 
thousand  pounds  than  there  were  in  1650  worth  a  thousand; 
that  gentlewomen,  in  those  earlier  times,  thought  themselves 


1702.] 


THE  STUART  FAMILY. 


'55 


well  clothed  in  a  serge  gown  which  a  chambermaid  would,  in 
1688,  be  ashamed  to  be  seen  in;  and  that,  besides  the  great 
increase  of  rich  clothes,  plate,  jewels,  and  household  furniture, 
coaches  were  in  that  time  augmented  a  hundred-fold." 

Trade  and  commerce  flourished,  especially  with  the  East  and 
with  the  American  Colonies.  The  cotton  manufacture  was  com- 
menced at  Manchester ;  and  many  French  Huguenots,  driven 
from  France,  came  into  England,  and  set  up  their  business  of 
silk- weaving.  Roads  and  turnpikes  were  improved,  stage-coaches 
introduced  ;  and  the  mail  was  carried  in  bags  on  horseback,  the 
first  post-office  being  established  in  1635.  Tea,  coffee,  tobacco, 
and  spices  were  introduced  ;  also  calico  from  Calicut  in  India. 

In  1670  the  Duke  of  Buckingham  introduced  into  England 
the  manufacture  of  plate  glass  and  crystal  by  importing  work- 
men from  Venice. 

A  few  newspapers  were  irregularly  published  during  the 
middle  and  latter  part  of  the  century ;  but  they  were  frequendy 
interfered  with  by  the  rigid  censorship  of  the  press. 

Many  Dutch  painters  of  distinction  were  in  England  during 
this  period,  and  the  fine  arts  received  considerable  attention. 
At  the  close  of  the  century  the  population  of  England  was 
somewhat  more  than  seven  millions,  and  that  of  London  was 
more  than  half  a  million.  Its  streets,  as  described  by  the 
writers  of  the  time,  were  narrow,  unpaved,  and  dirty,  with  no 
lights  except  the  lantern  or  torch  of  the  nightly  traveller. 

18.  On  the  death  of  W^illiam  the  crown  devolved  upon  Anne 
(1702),  the  second  daughter  of  James  II.,  who  was 
married  to  George,  Prince  of  Denmark.     In  the 
first  year  of  this  reign.  Great  Britain,  Germany,  and  Holland, 
in  alliance  with  each  other,  declared  war  against  France,  called 
the  war  of  the  Spanish  succession.     The  Duke  of  ^^^  ^^ 
Marlborough,  one   of  the   greatest  commanders  of  Spanish 
modem  times,  was  appointed  generalissimo  of  the  "^^^^^^^sion. 
allied  army ;  and  the  imperial  general  was  the  celebrated  Prince 
Eugene.     In  this  great  contest  the  allies  had  greatly  the  advan- 
tage, effectually  checked  the  ambition  and  encroachments  of 


Queen  Anne. 


156 


HISTORY  OF  ENGLAND, 


[1704. 


Louis  XIV.,  and  gained  the  splendid  victories  of  Blenheim 
(1704),  Ramillies  (1706),  Oudenarde  (1708),  and  Malplaquet 
(1709).  Gibraltar  was  captured  by  Admiral  Rooke  in  1704, 
and  has  ever  since  remained  in  the  possession  of  the  English. 
The  war  was  terminated  by  the  Peace  of  Utrecht  in  1713. 

19.  An  important  event  of  this  reign  was  the  constitutional 
Union  of  union  between  England  and  Scotland  ( 1 706),  which 
England  and  put  an  did  to  the  contcsts  which  had  harassed 
-  *^°^  ^  '  .both  countries,  and  induded  them  under  one  com- 
mon title  of  Great  Britain.  Scotland  was  immediately  repre- 
sented in  Parliament  by  sixteen  peers  in  the  House  of  Lords, 
and  forty-five  members  in  the  House  of  Commons.  This  union 
proved  especially  beneficial  to  Scotland,  being  followed  by  a 
rapid  development  of  her  business -interests,  and  by  a  healthful 
improvement  in  the  condition  of  the  people  and  society. 

23.  Queen  Anne  was  respected  for  her  virtues,  and  she  has 
been  honored  by  the  appellation  of  "Good  Queen  Anne;" 
Anne's  though,  according  to   Lord  Mahon,   "she  was  a 

character.  yg^y  ^yeak  woman,  always  blindly  guided  by  some 
female  favorite."  Her  principal  advisers  were  the  Duchess  of 
Marlborough  and  her  husband,  —  the  duke  above  mentioned. 
The  duke  was  not  only  an  able  commander,  but  a 
successful  diplomatist,  and  one  of  the  most  accom- 
plished gentlemen  of  his  age  ;  but  at  heait  he  was  treacherous, 
mean,  and  exceedingly  avaricious.  After  a  brilliant  career  he 
and  the  duchess  lost  favor  with  the  queen,  and  retired  to  the 
Netherlands. 

Anne's  reign  was  distinguished  not  only  for  military  achieve- 
ments, but  also  for  eminent  attainments  in  philosophy  and 
literature,  and  is  sometimes  styled  the  Augustan  age  of  England, 
during  which  many  distinguished  writers  flourished,  including 
Addison,  Swift,  Pope,  Steele,  and  Bolingbroke. 

The  queen  died  suddenly,  in  August,  1 714.  She  had  eighteen 
children,  all  of  whom  died  young,  one  only  reaching  the  age  of 
eleven  years. 


Marlborough. 


1714] 


THE  STUART  FAMILY. 


157 


Party  names. 


21.  The  party  names  of  Whigs  and  Tories,  which  are  some- 
times used  to  designate  parties  in  England,  first  became  com- 
mon in  the  reign  of  Charles  H.  The  Whigs  were 
advocates  for  the  rights  of  the  people  :  the  Tories 
favored  those  of  the  crown.  The  accession  of  William  and 
Mary  was  advocated  chiefly  by  the  Whigs.  During  the  reign 
of  Anne,  parties  ran  high  :  the  nation  was  thrown  into  a  ferment 
by  the  preaching  of  Dr.  Sacheverell,  who  inculcated  the  Tory 
principle  of  passive  obedience ;  and  towards  the  close  of  the 
reign  the  Tories  supplanted  the  Whigs  in  the  queen's  favor,  and 
came  into  power. 

22.  The  sovereigns  of  the  Stuart  family  were  not  friends  of 
popular  liberty.  While  they  had  not  that  vindic-  The  stuart 
tiveness  towards  opponents  and  offenders  so  often  *a"^»iy- 
exhibited  by  the  Tudors,  they  were  firm  believers  in  the  divine 
right  of  kings.  In  their  judgment,  laws  were  for  subjects,  and 
not  for  sovereigns ;  and  their  "  high  prerogative  "  seemed  to 
them  a  sufficient  justification  for  whatever  policy  was  dictated 
by  their  pleasure,  interest,  or  caprice.  It  was  their  misfortune, 
perhaps,  to  live  in  an  age  when  parliaments  had  come  to  mani- 
fest considerable  boldness  and  independence,  and  when  the 
people  were  noticeably,  clamoring  for  freedom  of  opinion  and 
popular  rights.  Hence  factions  and  convulsions  were  the  rule 
rather  than  the  exception.  Some  of  this  family  had  the  welfare 
of  the  people  at  heart,  and  contributed  in  no  small  measure  to 
the  general  prosperity  of  the  realm ;  but  they  lacked  that  sym- 
pathy with  the  people,  and  that  instinct  for  progress,  necessary 
for  their  position.  The  age  of  the  Stuarts  was  one  in  which  the 
opportunity  of  kings  was  imperfectly  understood,  and  sinfully 
abused  and  neglected. 


SYNOPSIS  FOR  REVIEW. 


159 


SYNOPSIS   FOR  REVIEW. 

PART  III.    CHAPTERS   I.-IV. 
THE   TUDOR   AND   THE   STUART   FAMILIES. 

Pages  97-157. 

I.  — The  Tudor  Family. 

Henry  VII-  His  title.  Character  of  the  Tudors.  Pretend- 
ers. Henry's  character.  Useful  reign.  Feudal  system. 
The  navy.  Spirit  of  adventure.  Revival  of  learning.  The 
Star  Chamber.    Origin  of  the  Stuarts. 

Henry  VIIL  Prospects  and  disappointment.  Henry's  real 
character.  Foreign  wars.  Flodden.  The  Reformation. 
Defender  of  the  Faith.  Wolsey.  Matrimonial  troubles. 
More.  Quarrel  with  the  Papacy.  A  persecutor.  More 
matrimonial  troubles.  Henry  in  history.  Important  events 
and  persons. 

Edward  VL    His  character  and  reign.    Lady  Jane  Grey. 

Mary.  Her  early  life ;  marriage;  religion;  character;  policy. 
Persecutions.  Loss  of  Calais.  Mary's  death.  Her  treat- 
ment in  history. 

EUzabeth.  Offers  of  marriage.  Character  of  her  reign. 
Acts  of  supremacy  and  uniformity.  Mary,  Queen  of  Scots  ; 
her  career.  Spanish  Armada.  Eminent  statesmen.  Earl 
of  Essex.  Elizabeth's  last  days.  Her  character,  public  and 
private.    Important  events. 

Mode  of  Life  and  State  of  Society  Political  events. 
The  Reformation.  Trade,  commerce,  and  adventure.  Man- 
ufactures and  agriculture.  Labor  of  women.  Condition  of 
the  people.  Dwellings  and  furniture.  Style  of  living. 
Feasting  and  food.  Dress  and  personal  appearance. 
Amusements.     Weddings.    Education. 

II.  — The  Stuart  Family. 

James  L    Character  of  the  Stuarts,    A  conspiracy.    Raleigh. 
Gunpowder  Plot.    Dissenters.    English   Bible.    American 

158 


i 


colonies.  The  Puritans  ;  New  England.  James's  associates 
and  counsellors.  James  as  a  ruler ;  spirit  of  liberty.  James's 
death  and  family ;  person  and  character.  Important  events 
and  persons. 
Charles  L  State  of  the  kingdom.  Arbitrary  measures  of  the 
king.  Shi[>money.  John  Hampden.  Petition  of  Rights. 
Strafford  and  Laud ;  opposition  to  Episcopacy.  The  King 
and  Parliament.  Bold  measures;  civil  war  and  its  parties; 
leaders.  Edgehill.  Charles  at  Oxford.  Foreign  aid.  Death 
of  Hampden.  Newbury..  Alliance  with  the  Scots.  League 
and  Covenant.  Re-enforcements.  MarstonMoor.  The  army. 
Naseby.  End  of  the  war.  Charles  with  the  Scots;  his 
ransom ;  a  prisoner.  His  trial,  execution,  and  death.  Feel- 
ings of  the  nation.  Charles's  character  and  abilities ;  oppo- 
nents; family.  Artists.  Westminster  Assembly.  Roger 
Williams'.    Posts. 

HI. — The  Commonwealth. 

Crom^nrell.  Change  of  government.  The  army  in  power. 
State  of  Ireland.  Cromwell's  campaign.  Places  taken; 
castles.  Prince  Charles  and  the  Scots.  Dunbar.  Worces- 
ter. Charles  II.  a  fugitive.  War  with  Holland;  naval  bat- 
tles. Cromwell  and  Long  Parliament.  Protector.  Little 
Parliament.  Cromwell's  administration;  affliction  and 
death ;  abilities  and  career ;  place  in  history ;  private  char- 
acter.   Richard  Cromwell.    The  Restoration. 

IV..— The  Stuarts  Restored. 

Charles  IX  His  accession.  Public  sentiment.  Charles's 
prodigality.  Fire  and  plague.  Dissatisfaction.  Duke  of 
York.  Habeas  Corpus.  Plots.  Character  of  court  and 
nation.    Distinguished  men.    Learned  societies. 

James  IL     His  character.    Monmouth  and  Jeffries. 

The  Revolution  of  1688. 

William  in.  and  Mary.  The  navy.  Principles  established. 
Passive  obedience.  Opposition  to  William  III.  His  char- 
acter.   The  bank  of  England. 

Progress  of  the  century :  increase  of  wealth ;  trade  and  com- 
merce ;  glass ;  newspapers ;  art ;  population.    London. 

Anne.  War  of  the  Spanish  succession;  battles.  Constitu- 
tional union.  Anne's  character.  Marlborough.  Eminent 
persons.    Party  names.    The  Stuart  family. 


CHRONOLOGICAL  TABLE 

OF   ENGLISH   AND  LEADING  CONTEMPORANEOUS   SOVEREIGNS   AND 

IMPORTANT  EVENTS. 

Houses  of  Tudor  and  Stuart,  1485-17x4. 


1400.     85.         Henry  VII.  —  Charles    VHI,    France,  83-98. 

Louis  XII.,  France.  Freder- 
ick in.,  Germany,  93.  Pope 
Alexander  VI.,  92.  Ferdi- 
nand and  Isabella,  Spain,  74. 
Map  of  the  world  published  at 
Nuremberg,  90.  America  dis- 
covered, 92.    Diet  at  Worms,  95. 

1500.       9.       Henry  VIII.  — Francis  X,  France,  15.     Charles 

V,  Germany,  19-56.  Popes,— 
Leo  X.,  21;  Clement  VIX; 
Paul   nx     Gustavus   Vasa, 

Sweden,  28.  St.  Peter's  Church 
begun,  13.  Council  of  Trent,  45. 
Albert  Durer.  Loyola.  Michael 
Angelo.    Raphael.    Cortez. 

•Henry  IL,  France,  husband  of 
Catherine  de  Medici,  47-59. 
Orange-trees  brought  to  Europe. 

PhiUp  II.,  Spain,  55-98.     Pope 

Paul  rv. 

-Francis  II,  France,  husband  of 

Mary,  Queen  of    Scots,  59. 

Charles     IX.       Henry    IV. 

Popes     Pius    v.,     Gregory 

Xm,  Clement  Vm.    James 

VX,    Scotland,    67.      Only    two 

carriages  in  Paris.    Republic  of 

Holland,  79.    Kepler.    Decimals 

invented,  2. 
160 


47. 

Edward  VI. 

53- 

Mary. 

58. 

Elizabeth. 

CHRONOLOGICAL    TABLE. 


161 


A.D. 
1600. 


25- 


James  I.  —  Louis  Xin.,  France,  10-43.  Fope 

Paul  V.  Virginia  settled,  7. 
New  York,  14.  Plymouth,  20. 
Maine,  New  Hampshire,  23. 
Logarithms,  telescopes,  and  ther- 
mometers invented. 

Charles  I.  —  Ferdinand  II.,  Germany,   19-37. 

Pope  Urban  Vn.  Salem, 
Boston,  and  Rhode  Island  settled. 
Harvard  College  founded,  38. 
Conde.    Turenne. 


49.  The  Common- 
wealth. 


60. 


Charles  II. 


85. 


•Louis  XIV.,  France,  1643-17 15. 
Leopold  X,  Germany.  Pope 
Alexander  VIX  Air-pump 
invented.  400,000  people  died  of 
the  plague  at  Naples  in  six 
months.    Fenelon. 

•Louis  XIV.      Pope  Innocent 

XI.  Bombay  taken  by  the  Eng- 
lish. Steam  -  engine  invented, 
63.  Bees  introduced  into  New 
England,  7a  Mississippi  dis- 
covered, ']Ty.  King  Philip's 
war,  75.  Great  comet.  William 
Penn. 

James  II.  —  Louis    XTV.       Suppression    of 

New-England  charters. 


89.      William  and 

Mary. 


1700. 


2* 


Louis  xrv.  Pope  Innocent 
XH.  Charles  XIX,  Sweden. 
Peter  the  Great,  Russia. 
Salem  witchcraft.  Yale  College 
founded  (1700).  Poland  dismem- 
bered, 2. 

Anne.— Louis  XIV.  Pope  Clement 
XX  St.  Petersburg  built,  3.  St. 
Paul's  rebuilt,  10.  Ruins  of 
Herculaneum  discovered,  11. 


1727.] 


THE  HOUSE  OF  BRUNSWICK. 


^(^Z 


<  Hr 


CHAPTER  V. 

THE   HOUSE  OF  BRUNSWICK  (PART  I.). 


George  I. 
George  II. 


1714  to  1837,-123  years. 

George  III. 
George  IV. 


William  IV. 


ON  the  death  of  Queen  Anne  (i 714),  George  I.,  Elector 
of  Hanover,  succeeded  to  the  crown,  in  the  fifty-fifth 
Character  of    year  of  his  age.     He  was  the  son  of  the  Duke  of 
George  I.        fininswick,  Elector  of  Hanover,  and,  on  his  mother's 
side,  was  the  great-grandson  of  James  I.  of  England.     Before 
he  ascended  the  throne  he  had  acquired  some  reputation  as 
a  politician  and  a  general.      He  was  plain  in  his  manners, 
and  not  of  elevated  character  or  taste ;  but  he  was  a  man  of 
great  application  to  business,  and  his  reign  was  pacific  and 
prosperous.     Some  faults  in  his  government  were  attributed  to 
a  venal  ministry ;  and  he  was  esteemed  to  the  end  of  his  life 
in  his  views  and  conduct,  much  more  the  Elector  of  Hanover 
than  the  King  of  England.    Sir  Robert  Walpole  was  George's 
pnncipal  adviser,  and  was  one  of  the  most  eminent  statesmen 
of  his  time. 

2.  The  two  parties,  which  had  long  divided  the  kingdom, 
now,  for  a  time,  changed  their  titles :  the  Whigs  being  styled 
tende?*"  ^^°°^e"ans ;  and  the  Tories,  Jacobites.  The  for- 
ten  er.  ^^^^  ^^^^  strenuous  advocatcs  for  the  accession 

of  George,  received,  in  return,  from  him  favor  and  support,  and 
were  restored  to  power.  This  circumstance  alienated  and 
enraged  the  Tories  to  such  a  degree,  that  many  of  them  took 
part  with  the  Pretender,  son  of  James  H.,  who  was  proclaimed 


king  in  Scotland,  and  made  an  effort  to  obtain  the  crown ;  but 
the  rebellion  was  suppressed,  and  the  leaders  executed. 

3.  A  pacific  reign  like  that  of  George  I.  furnishes  few  events 
of  importance  in  history.  One,  however,  of  disastrous  conse- 
quences, occurred,  commonly  called  the  "  South -sea  south-sea 
Bubble,"  —  a  wild  scheme  of  speculation  by  the  bubble. 
South  Company,  who  had  the  exclusive  right  to  trade  with  the 
Spanish  Colonies  in  America,  and  who  bought  up  the  govern- 
ment annuities,  paying  for  them  in  its  own  stock.  In  this  way  it 
promised  to  pay  off  the  national  debt,  and  to  loan  the  govern- 
ment money  at  a  low  rate  of  interest.  It  was  a  base  imposture, 
giving  a  great  shock  to  public  credit,  and  involving  thousands 
in  ruin. 

4.  The  Septennial  Act  made  the  length  of  a  parliament 
seven  years,  instead  of  three  as  before.     One  object  septennial 
of  this  change  was  to  avoid  the  excitement  of  fre-  ^^'^' 
quent  elections,  and  changes  of  parliament. 

5.  During  this  reign  Daniel  Defoe  wrote  "  Robinson  Crusoe," 
Dean  Swift  gave  to  the  world  his  "  Gulliver's  Trav-   Literary 
els,"  Watts  composed  many  of  his  sacred  lyrics,  celebrities, 
and  Thomson  published  the  first  part  of  his  poem  called  "  The 
Seasons." 

King  George  died  of  apoplexy,  in  Germany,  in  1727,  leaving 
one  son,  who  became  his  successor. 

6.  George  II.,  who  succeeded  his  father  (1727)  in  the 
forty-fourth  year  of  his  age,  was  an  able  general  of  great  per- 
sonal courage,  but  was  too  fond  of  war,  and  de- 
hghted  in  miUtary  parade.  The  most  prominent 
person  in  the  administration  in  the  former  part  of  the  reign  (as 
in  the  previous  reign  also)  was  Sir  Robert  Walpole,  a  man 
whose  policy  was  pacific,  and  who  was  distinguished  for  his 
talents,  and  not  less  so  for  the  system  of  corruption  and  venal- 
ity which  he  practised  while  in  ofiice. 

7.  The  military  operations  of  this  reign  were  extensive  and 
numerous;  and  the  British  anns  were,  for  the  most  part,  tri- 


Walpole. 


1 64 


HISTORY  OF  ENGLAND, 


[1743- 


1759-1 


THE  HOUSE  OF  BRUNSWICK, 


165 


Culloden. 


umphant.  Charles  VI.,  Emperor  of  Germany,  who  died  in  1 740, 
was  succeeded  in  his  dominions  by  his  daughter,  the  celebrated 
The  Aus-  Maria  Theresa  {Te-re-zah),  who  was  married  to 
trian  sue-  Francis  of  Lx)rraine.  But  Charles,*  the  Elector  of 
Bavaria,  asserted  his  claim  to  the  throne,  and,  by 
the  aid  of  Louis  XV.,  was  elected  emperor.  This  gave  rise 
to  a  war,  which  involved  the  principal  states  of  Europe,  called 
the  war  of  the  Austrian  succession,  during  which  the  allies 
under  George  II.  defeated  the  French  in  the  batde  of  Dettin- 
gen  (1743),  and  the  French  under  Marshal  Saxe  routed  the 
allies  at  Fontenoy  (1745)-  Great  Britain  was  the  principal 
support  of  Maria  Theresa ;  and  by  the  Peace  of  Aix-la-Chapelle 
{Akes-lah'Cha-pel)  in  1 748  her  claim  to  the  throne  was  con- 
firmed. 

8;  While  George  II.  was  absent  on  the  Continent  at  the  head 
of  the  British  army,  Charles  Edward,  the  young  Pretender, 
assisted  by  Louis  XV.  of  France,  made  an  effort  to 
recover  the  throne  of  his  ancestors.  Having 
landed  in  Scotland,  he  put  himself  at  the  head  of  an  army,  and 
defeated  the  royal  forces  in  the  batdes  of  Preston-Pans  and 
Falkirk,  but  was  afterwards  entirely  defeated  by  the  Duke  of 
Cumberland  in  the  decisive  battle  of  Culloden  (1746).  This 
was  the  last  battle  that  has  been  fought  on  the  soil  of  Great 
Britain ;  and  it  terminated  the  last  effort  of  the  Stuart  family  to 
re-ascend  the  throne,  which  had  been  forfeited  by  the  most 
egregious  folly  and  the  most  flagitious  attempts. 

9.  In  the  latter  part  of  this  reign  the  war  between  Great 
Britain  and  France,  called  the  "  Seven- Years'  War,"  was  re- 
seven-  newcd,  in  which  their  American  Colonies  also  took 

Years'  War.  part.  In  an  expedition  by  the  English  and  Ameri- 
cans against  the  French  at  Fort  Duquesne  i^Du- 
kdne),  now  Pittsburg,  Penn.,  George  Washington, 
then  a  young  officer  in  the  Virginia  militia,  distinguished  him- 
self in  conducting  the  retreat  of  the  forces  after  their  com- 
mander, Gen.  Braddock,  had  been  slain.     In  the  course  of  a 


Wash- 
ington. 


few  years  the  English  took  Duquesne,  Louisburg  (on  the  Island 
of  Cape  Breton),  Ticonderoga,  Crown  Point,  Niagara;  and 
finally,  under  the  command  of  Gen.  Wolfe,  they  gained  pos- 
session (1759)  of  the  city  of  Quebec.  These  successes  were 
followed  by  the  surrender  of  all  Canada,  on  the  part  of  the 
French,  to  the  English,  in  1763. 

ID.  Extensive  conquests  in  India  were  made  by  the  English 
during  this  period.  In  the  time  of  Elizabeth  a  company  was 
chartered  for  trade  in  the  East  Indies  ;  and  by  sub-  East-india 
sequent  renewals  of  its  charter,  and  acts  of  Parlia-  Company, 
ment,  its  business  and  operation  became  very  extensive  under 
the  name  of  the  "  East-India  Company."  Its  principal  factories 
or  trading-posts  were  at  Bombay,  Madras,  and  Calcutta.  The 
French  had  similar  stations  in  India,  and  were  making  vigorous 
efforts  to  monopolize  the  trade  and  control  of  the  country. 

11.  In  1 75 1,  Robert  Clive,  a  former  clerk  of  the  East-India 
Company,  with  a  few  soldiers,  and  by  the  aid  of  some  of  the 
friendly  native  princes,  made  a  sudden  attack  upon 
the  French  and  their  allies,  and  completely  routed 
them,  and  secured  to  the  British  the  country  along  the  east 
coast  called  the  Carnatic.  A  few  years  later,  Clive,  with  three 
thousand  men,  met  and  defeated  Surajah  Dowlah,  the  Nabob 
of  Bengal,  with  an  army  of  sixty  thousand  men,  and  added  that 
rich  and  populous  province  to  British  India. 

12.  During  the  reign  of  George  II.  Great  Britain  made  great 
progress  in  wealth  and  general  improvement.     The   nadonal 
debt,  however,  was  more  than  doubled  during  the  National 
reign ;  and  at  the  end  of  the  Seven- Years'  War,  in  **«*»*• 

1 763,  it  amounted  to  nearly  a  hundred  and  thirty- nine  million 
pounds.  This  debt  was  commenced  during  the  reign  of  William 
and  Mary,  and  at  the  end  of  the  reign  of  George  III.  it 
amounted  to  upwards  of  eight  hundred  million  pounds. 

13.  George's  temper  was  violent,  his  talents  respectable, 
though  litde  cultivated  by  education,  and  his  internal  ad- 
ministration generally  equitable  and  popular;   but  his  private 


Lord  Clive. 


j66 


HISTORY  OF  ENGLAND, 


[176a 


1783] 


THE  HOUSE  OF  BRUNSWICK, 


167 


I  '"1 


\\ 


i  I 


fu- 
ll 


I    ^' 


Handel. 


character  was  licentious,  and  the  morals  of  the  court  during 
George't  his  reign  were  very  corrupt.  His  partialities  in 
character.  f^^^^  ^^  j^j^  continental  dominions  are  represented 
as  still  stronger  than  those  of  his  father,  and  he  has  been  cen- 
sured for  involving  Great  Britain  in  expensive  wars  on  account 
of  the  interests  of  the  electorate  of  Hanover.  He  died  sud- 
denly in  1760  at  the  age  of  seventy- seven,  after  a  reign  of 
thirty-three  years. 

The  distinguished  musical  composer  Handel,  a  native  of 
Germany,  though  long  a  resident  in  England,  died 
in  London  in  1759. 

14.  George  III.,  grandson  and  successor  of  George  11., 
was  the  first  king  of  the  house  of  Brunswick  that  was  bom  in 
State  of  the  England.  He  commenced  his  reign  (1760)  at  an 
country.  auspicious  period,  when  the  arms  of  Great  Britain 
were  triumphant,  and  the  administration  able  and  popular. 
The  war  with  France  was,  not  long  afterwards,  brought  to  a 
close ;  and,  by  the  Peace  of  Paris,  Canada,  and  other  territories 
in  North  America,  were  confirmed  to  England. 

15.  William  Pitt  (afterwards  Lord  Chatham)  was  at  the  head 
of  the  administration  during  the  last  years  of  the  preceding 
William  reign ;  and  in  the  former  part  of  this  he  was  the 
^"*-  .    most  prominent  public  man  in  the  nation.     At  this 

period  oppressive  measures  were  adopted  by  the  British  Govern- 
Oppression     ™ent  with  regard  to  the  American  Colonies.    These 
CoionTe*s"'*°   Chatham  opposed  with  his  poweri^ul  eloquence  ;  but 
they  were  persisted  in  by  the  king  and  Parliament. 
The  Colonies  were  taxed,  but  had  no  representation  in  Pariia- 
ment ;  and  a  law  called  the  "  Stamp  Act,"  requiring  a  stamp, 
purchased  of  the  government,  to  be  affixed  to  every  legal  docu- 
ment in  the  Colonies,  was  passed  by  Parliament  in  1765.     The 
British  Government  found  great  difficulty  in  enforcing  this  act, 
and  other  measures  obnoxious  to  the  Americans  were  stoutly 
resisted  by  them. 

16.  In  1775  hostilities  commenced,  and  a  very  stubborn  spirit 


of  resistance  was  everywhere  manifested  by  the  Colonies.    The 
first  engagements  took  place  at  Concord  and  Lexington,  and 
Bunker  Hill,  in  Massachusetts;  and  the  Americans  jheAmeri. 
soon  after  captured  important  forts  on  the  west  side  can  Revoiu- 
of  Lake  Champlain.     In  the  following  year  (July  *'°°- 
4,  1776)   a  declaration  of  the  independence   of  the  United 
States  was  made,  in  which  were  boldly  set  forth  the  grievances 
of  the  Colonies,  and  their  right  and  determination  to  be  free 
and  independent.    The  war  continued  nearly  seven  years  (dur- 
ing which  more  than  fifty  engagements  took  place),  and  was 
virtually  teminated  by  the  surrender  of  the  British  army,  under 
Comwallis,  at  Yorktown,  Va.,  in   October,  1781.    The  inde- 
pendence of  the  Colonies  was  finally  acknowledged  by  Great 
Britain,  by  a  treaty  signed  at  Paris  in  September,  1783. 

y 

17.  The  East- India  Company  had  now  become  a  powerful 
political  organization  for  English  supremacy  in  the  East ;  and 
by  it  vast  acquisitions  of  territory  were  made,  and  warren 
great  injustice  and  robbery  were  practised  upon  the  Hastings, 
natives.  Warren  Hastings  was  appointed  Governor-general  of 
British  India  in  1 22^4.  He  was  a  man  of  distinguished  ability 
and  dauntless  courage;  and  his  administration  was  highly 
beneficial  to  British  interests  in  India,  which  he  successfully 
defended  against  an  invading  army  of  ninety  thousand  men, 
under  Hyder  Ali  {Hider  Ah' -lee),  a  noted  Mohammedan  chief- 
tain of  Mysore.  But  the  expense  of  numerous  wars,  and  his 
efforts  to  satisfy  the  repeated  demands  of  the  East-India  Com- 
pany for  a  larger  revenue,  induced  Hastings  to  resort  to  meas- 
ures that  were  unjust,  and  which  finally  resulted  in  his  downfall. 
He  was  accused  of  repeated  exaction  and  extortions  towards 
the  natives ;  of  seizing  provinces,  and  selling  them  for  money 
to  the  chiefs  of  rival  districts ;  of  plundering  the  holy  city  of 
Benares ;  and  finally  of  imprisoning  two  princesses  of  Oude, 
until  they  paid  him  a  ransom,  or  fine,  of  about  six  million  dol- 
lars. After  an  administration  of  eleven  years,  he  resigned  his 
office,  and  returned  to  England,  where  he  was  afterwards  im- 


i68 


///Sro/av  OF  ENGLAND, 


[1795. 
^^ached  by  the  House  of  Commons  before  the  peers  of  the 

•     UDo!*  l^c.!t''\''!  "''uT  "^'  °"'  ^^  "^^  '"°'''  remarkable 
upon  record.    It  was  held  in  Westminster  Hall,  which  was 

H..«„^..      begun  by  Williafe  Rufus,  and  which  had  been  the 

Scot    Old./.T'^'rK     ""  '""'  ''"'^  "conviction  of  Wallace  the 
&ot   Oldcasile,  Thomas  More,  Somerset,  Essex,  Guy  Fawkes 

the  coronation  fest.vuies  of  nearly  thirty  of  England's   kimrs 
Theopenmgof  the  trial  took  place  in  L  presence  of  Zy 
L  iotri  ^''''""T'^'f  P^-°-S«  of  the  land.     The  peel 

wlh  1     , '"  f  f  """^  '™'"^ '  ^'^  "^^^^  -^^«  present  the 
hgh  offiaals  of  the  kingdom,  ambassadors  of  forei^  pole^ 

Zt  "t  T^T'  "''^"""^^'    ^'^^   Siddons   the    ceiZS 
a«ress,S,r  Joshua  Reynolds  the  painter.  Gibbon  the  historiln 

•ng  speech  of  Burke  occupied  nearlyVour  days,  and  was  one" 

tfnl    r'rr'^^''°"^  °^"^^  ■'■"^  ever  delivered      Has- 
tings afterwards  declared,  that,  at  times  during  its  delivery  he 

began  to  look  upon  himself  as  a  guilty  man  The  ri7'wa! 
connnued  from  time  to  time,  during  ich  session  otr 
ry-^rrv":  ^^^^' °""P^'"S  a^ogetherone  hundred  and 
2ed  ■  "'  ""  ''°'''  '"  '^55.  Hastings  was  ac 

te„?in  Ireland'""  ""^  °',  '^'  ""'"^  '^"'  ^"^  «""<='>  discon- 
tent ,n  Ireland,  occasioned  principally  by  a  party  who  wished  to 

Onion  of        sever  their  connection  with  England.    An  insurrec- 

fXT  """  ^'onoecurred,  in  which  two  hundred  and  fifty  thou- 

and  in  rSno  r  ^°P'^"^°'^  P^"'  but  it  was  soon  suppressed, 
and  in  ,800  Great  Bntam  and  Ireland  were  united  under  one 
l^arhament  and  took  the  name  of  "The  United  Kingdom  of 
Great  Britain  and  Ireland."  "-'"guom  01 


1805.) 


rZ/jB  HOUSE  OF  nRUNSWICK. 


169 


20.  In  17S9  the  French  Revolution  broke  out,  convulsing  all 
Europe ;  and  \t  was  thought  to  threaten  the  overthrow  of  aU 
estabhshed  government.     The  government  of  Great  General  Eu. 
Britain,  alarmed  respecting  its  own  safety,  embarked  ropeM  w^' 
zealously  in  the  European  war  with  a  view  to  check  the  dis- 
semination of  democratic  principles  both  at  home  and  abroad. 
The  system  of  operations  was  devised  and  managed  under  the 
direction  of  William  Pitt,  the  son  of  Lord  Chatham,  who  was 
now  at  the  head  of  the  administration.     This  calamitous  war 
contmued  to  convulse  the  Continent  for  a  quarter  of  a  century; 
and,  during  a  part  of  the  time,  Great  Britain  alone  had  all 
Europe  arrayed  against  her.     But,  after  various  alternations  of 
failure  and  success,  she  came  off  victorious,  yet  not  without 
an   immense   loss  of  the  blood  of  her  subjects,  and  a  vast 
increase  of  her  national  debt. 

21.  Some  of  the  British  victories  during  this  war  were  im- 
portant,  and  are  conspicuous   in  military  history.     In   1798 
Napoleon  Bonaparte,  at  that  time  commander-in-  Battle  of 
chief  of  the  French  armies,  invaded  Egypt,  intend-  the  Niil 
ing  to  get  control  of  that  country,  and  then  to  menace  the 
British  possessions  in  India.     Lord  Nelson,  in  command  of  an 
English  fleet,  followed,  and,  after  a  long  search  through  the 
Mediterranean,  came  upon  the  French  fleet  in  Aboukir  i^Ah- 
boo-keer)  Bay,  near  Alexandria.     A  brilliant  engagement  gen- 
erally called  the  Battle  of  the  Nile,  soon  followed,  by  night 
(Aug.  i),  in  which  Nelson  was  the  victor,  and  the  French  fleet 
was  nearly  annihilated.     Brueys  {Bru-a'),  the  French  admiral 
was   killed,  and   his   flag-ship,  "The  Orient,"  took   fire  and 
exploded,  causing  the  death  of  his  youthful  son,  Cassabianca, 
—  an  event  touchingly  commemorated  in  a  poem  of  that  name 
by  Mrs.  Hemans. 

22.  In  October,  1805,  Nelson  fought  another  naval  battle, 
against  the  combined  French  and  Spanish  fleets,  off" 
Cape  Trafalgar',   on   the  coast  of  Spain.     Before   '^'^^*'^"- 
going  into  action,  he  signalled  to  his  fleet  the  order  which  has 


170 


MlSrOI^y  OF  ENGLAND. 


[1809. 


\}} 


rendered  his  name  famous ;  « England  expects  every  man  to 
do  his  duty."    The  contest  was  a  fierce  one,  with  a  heavy  loss 
on   both   sides;   but  the   English  were  completely  victorious 
although  Nelson  was  mortally  wounded  by  a  musket-ball,  and 
died  on  board  his  flagship,  "The  Victory." 

23.  The  Spanish  Peninsula  was  the  scene  of  many  brilliant 
campaigns  during  this  war.  In  1809  Sir  John  Moore,  a  cele- 
Sir  John  brated  English  general,  was  in   command   of  the 

oore.  allied  forces  against  the  French  under  Marshal 

Soult,  and  fought  a  successful  battle  at  Corunna  (Jan.  16)   in 
which  he  lost  his  life.     His  hasty  burial  at  night,  on  the  ram- 
parts of  Corunna,  has  been  made  historic  by  the  poet  Wolfe 
m  one  of  the  finest  odes  in  the  English  language,  commen' 
cmg,  — 

"Not  a  drum  was  heard,  not  a  funeral  note." 

24.  The  Duke  of  Wellington  won  many  of  his  laurels  in  the 
peninsula.  In  1809,  in  command  of  the  English  and  Spanish 
Taiavera.  ^^^^^^^  ^^  g^'^^n^d  a  decisive  victory  over  the  French 
at  Taiavera,  in  what  he  himself  called  one  of  the' 
hardest  fought  batdes  of  modem  times.  It  continued  two  days 
and  a  night,  and  each  party  lost  a  fourth  of  its  numbers 

Wellington  fought  an  equally  decisive  battle  at  Salamanca 
(1812),  m  which,  taking  advantage  of  some  mistakes  of  the 
Salamanca,  ^"^"^y*  ^'^  movements  splendidly  displayed  his 
military  genius,  and  established  his  reputation  as 
one  of  the  greatest  commanders  of  the  age.  To  be  able  to 
avail  one's  self  fully  and  safely  of  the  flood-tide  of  opportunity 
IS  one  of  the  surest  high-roads  to  successful  military  achieve- 
ment. 

A  third  contest  was  iVaged,  with  similar  good  fortune,  at 
Vittoria.         Vittona,  in  1813.     The  victory  here  was  complete ; 
and  the  captures  of  cannon,  wagons,  ammunitions! 
treasure,  and  cattle,  were  very  large. 

25.  But  the  crowning  battle  of  this  general  war  in  Europe 


1815.] 


TffE  HOUSE  OF  BRUNSWICK. 


171 


was  fought  on  the  i8th  of  June,  .815,  near  the  village  of  Water- 
loo, m  Belgium,  a  few  miles  south  of  Brussels.    The  „ 
allied  troops,  composed  of  English,  Belgians,  and  Th:',t:«. 
Germans,  were  commanded  by  Wellington,  and  the  French  by 

bets  each  having  more  than  seventy  thousand  troops ;  those 
of  the  French  being  mostly  tried  veterans,  with  two  hundred 
and  forty  cannon,  while  the  allies  were  made  up  of  several 
nationalities,  with  some  raw  troops,  and  a  hundred  and  fortv- 

(BM-er)    ,yere  a  few  miles  distant,  holding  in  check  the 
^emy  in  that  quarter,  with  instructions,  if  defeated,  to  join 
Wellington.      Napoleon   sent   Marshal   Grouchy    (Groo'-sL 
with  more  than  twenty  thousand  men,  to  watch  Blucher,  and  to 
prevent  him,  if  possible,  from  coming  to  the  aid  of  the  allies. 

26.  On  the  night  of  the  17th  the  two  armies  took  their 
posmons  on  two  opposite  semicircular  ridges,  separated  by  a 
shallow  valley,  or  plain,  varying  from  a  fourth  to 
less  than  a  half  of  a  mile  in  width.  During  the  ^^'  ^""'' 
night  the  rain  fell  in  torrents,  much  to  the  discomfort  of  the 
roops  and  to  the  embarrassment  of  their  movements  durin<r 
the  ensuing  forenoon.     The  attack  was  begun  by  the  French  at 

IZZ  °  n.  T  '^T^  "  '""'''=  ''='"'^'  "^""y  ^°"'^«t^d,  con- 
tinued until  dark.  The  French  made  some  important  gains 
during  the  day,  but  towards  evening  thev  were  driven  back 
w.th  great  loss ;  and  when  Blucher  arrived,  at  about  seven 
o  clock,  the  rout  became  complete.  Grouchy,  by  a  literal  inter- 
pretation of  his  orders,  neglected  to  come  to  the  relief  of 

^Tu'°!^,.  ?'  ''''  '■''"^  ^"^  ''^^'Se  by  the  French  was  made 
by  he  Old  Guards,  neariy  all  of  whom  perished  :  and  the 
battle  was  lost.  Blucher  continued  in  pursuit  of  the  fugitives 
during  a  considerable  part  of  the  night. 

The  total  loss  was  not  far  from  twenty-five  thousand  on  each 
side,  and  two  hundred  and  twenty-seven  of  the  French  cannon 
were  taken.     Several  distinguished  English  officers  fell,  and  the 


172 


HISTORY  OF  ENGLAND, 


[1812. 


French  Marshal  Ney  had  five  horses  shot  under  him.    Napoleon 
Loss«t.  escaped  to  Paris,  and  attempted  to  embark  for 

America,  but  was  taken  by  the  allies,  and  impris- 
oned upon  the  Island  of  St.  Helena. 

The  battle  of  Waterloo  was  one  of  the  most  important  in  its 
consequences  in  modern  times.  It  put  an  end  to  the  ambi- 
Effect  upon  tious  Career  of  Napoleon,  who  had  been  a  disturb- 
Europe.  j^g  element  in  European  affairs  for  many  years, 

gave  to  England  the  first  position  among  the  great  powers 
of  Europe,  and  inaugurated  a  better  policy  for  the  progress  of 
civilization. 

27.  In  1 81 2  the  United  States  declared  war  against  Great 
Britain.    English  men-of-war  had  repeatedly  searched  Ameri- 
War  with       ^^"   ships,  and   impressed   Enghsh   sailors   found 
the  United      thereon.    The  United  States  denied  the  right  of 
British  authorities  to  make  such  search,  and  hostili- 
ties ensued.    The  war  was  carried  on  principally  upon   the 
water,  where  more  than  twenty  naval  actions  took  place.    A 
few  engagements   upon   land   occurred   along   the   Canadian 
frontier  and  in  the  vicinity  of  Chesapeake  Bay ;  and  at  New 
Orleans,  Jan.  8,  1815,  the  last  battle  was  fought,  in  which  the 
Americans,   under  Gen.  Andrew  Jackson,  gained  a  decisive 
victory  over  the  British  under  Packenham    {Pak'n-am),    A 
treaty  of  peace  was  signed  at  Ghent,  Dec.  24,  18 14,  before  the 
battle  of  New  Orleans,  although  at  that  time  no  news  of  such  a 
treaty  had  reached  America.     In  that  treaty  no  mention  was 
made  of  the  question  of  the  right  of  search,  which  had  oc- 
casioned the  war. 

28.  The  reign  of  George  III.,  who  died  in  1820,  was  longer 
than  that  of  any  other  English  monarch ;  and  it  forms  a  dis- 
Character  of  ^inguished  period  in  the  history  of  the  kingdom,  on 
George  III.',  account  of  its  military  events  and  the  progress  of 
the  nation  m  commerce,  wealth,  and  the  arts.  Dur- 
ing the  last  ten  years  of  his  life  he  was  afflicted  with  insanity  to 
such  a  degree  as  entirely  disqualified  him  for  all  business,  and 


1820.] 


THE  HOUSE  OF  BRUNSWICK, 


173 


the  Prince  of  Wales  acted  as  regent.  His  talents  were  not 
brilliant,  nor  were  his  views  as  a  statesman  enlarged ;  but  his 
private  character  was  exemplary,  and  he  was  much  respected 
by  his  subjects. 

29.  A  large  number  of  persons  distinguished  in  the  various 
walks  of  life  lived  during  this  reign.     Among  the   eminent 
orators,  statesmen,  and  barristers,  were  Burke,  Fox,  Eminent 
the    elder     and    the    younger    Pitt,  Curran,  and  statesmen. 
Grattan,  and  Sheridan,  a  dramatist  also.     To   these  may  be 
added  Blackstone,  a  jurist,  legal  writer,  and  author  of  "Com- 
mentaries on  English  Law,"  a  standard  text-book  in  the  legal 
profession;  Lord  Mansfield,  chief  justice  of  the  King's  Bench 
for  more   than   thirty  years ;   Lord   North,  prime-minister  to 
George  III.,  and  a  bitter  enemy  of  the  American  Colonies; 
and  Lord  Chesterfield,  a  noted  courtier,  orator,  and  wit,  and 
regarded  as  a  model  of  politeness,  and,  in  fashionable  society, 
a  kind  of  oracle  of  taste. 

30.  Some  of  the  numerous  literary  celebrities  were  the  poets 
Burns  and  Byron,  both  of  extraordinary  genius ;  Gray,  author 
of  "The  Elegy  written  in  a  Country  Churchyard ;  "  Literary 
Coleridge,  poet  and  critic  ;  Cowper  {Koo'-per),  au-   celebrities, 
thor  of  "  The  Task ;  "  Walter  Scott,  novelist  and  poet ;  Gold- 
smith, poet  and  miscellaneous  writer,  and  author  of  "  The  Vicar 
of  Wakefield;  "  and  Sterne,  who  wrote  "Tristram  Shandy"  and 
"The  Sentimental  Journey."     Samuel  Johnson,  a  great  scholar 
and  distinguished  writer,  was  the  author  of  an  English  diction- 
ary, of  "  The  Lives  of  the  Poets,"  and  of  many  poems  and 
critical  writings. 

31.  In   the   department  of  historical  literature,  Hume  was 
the  author  of  a  "  History  of  England ; "  Gibbon 

wrote  "The  Decline  and  Fall  of  the  Roman  Em-  ''^^*°"^°'*-. 
pire ; "  and  Robertson  is  best  known  by  his  "  History  of  the 
Life  and  Times  of  Charies  V.  of  Germany." 

32.  In  1 769  a  series  of  political  letters  and  satires,  over  the 
signature  of  "Junius,"  appeared,  and  were  continued  for  about 


174 


HISTORY  OF  ENGLAND, 


[i«ao. 


three  years.    They  were  written  with  remarkable  ability,  and 

j'-unL?  "'       "''"'t  ''!  «°7'-7^"'  -nd  public  men  with  un- 

usual   seventy.     It   has   generally   been   sunooseH 

that  they  were  written  by  Sir  Philip  Francis,  thoul    Li'  real 

authorship  was  never  known.  ^  ' 

33.  Sir  Joshua  Reynolds  stands  unsurpassed  among  English 
Art  „a  .he     P°rt«it-painters ;  and   Mrs.   Siddons,  a  native  of 

Britain  h,=  r       ^^f^''!'^  ">«  "°^'  celebrated  actress  Great 
Bntam  has  ever  produced.     David  Garrick  was  also  an  emi 
nent  actor  and  dramatist.  """ 

34.  Whitefield   (Hwif -feeld)  and  John  Wesley   both   di. 
senters,  were  distinguished  popular  preachers,  andLtlTvisS 
IsT."  "'^:    ^f^"^  ''^"'"^  'he  founder  of  the  de- 
a  preaTher  """'"^""Vf  ^^^'^odists ;  and  his  brother  Charles, 

^^at  meri;.        '  ""^  "'  '"''°''  °'  "^^"^  ^^''8'°-  ^mns  of 

35-  In  the  military  and  naval  history  of  Great  Britain,  there 
i«nit«y„d  are  many  examples  of  brilliant  achievement  and 
h:;:^.  T^^^'"  '^^^°''°°  »»  '^eir  country-s  welfare ;  but  in 

this  respect  none  are  surer  of  lasting  fame  and  a 
place  m  the  hearts  of  their  countrymen,  than  NeLn  and  Wei 
Iwgton,  some  of  whose  exploits  have  been  mentioned. 

36.  Toward  the  latter  part  of  this  reign  a  new  kind  of  peri- 
odical pubhcafon  had  its  origin,  in  "The  Edinburgh  Review" 
P.n.«c^  (i8o.),  the  organ  of  the  Whig  and  reforming 
T  a'  r.  ^^^'  ""^  '^^  followed  (1809)  by  its  rival  "The 
London  Quarterly  Review."  which  became  a  bcJd  advocate  of 
Tory  pnacples.  In  18, 7  "  Blackwood's  Edinburgh  Magazine  " 
mon  hly)  was  established  under  the  editorship  of  SZr 

IsoireTio  r"  ^l^'r^P'^^^  ^°"''-  Thi'magazine  hi 
"ThfFH  K  ^^'  "^''^  "P°"  '^'  ^°^'""^^  advocated  by 
The  Edmburgh  Review."  These  publications  are  still  con- 
tmued,  and  have  always  been  edited  with  great  ability  and 
have  exerted  among  the  educated  classes  a  wide  influence  in 
politics,  hterature.  social  and  religious  aflairs. 


182O.J 


TIfE  HOUSE  OF  BRUNSWICK. 


175 


c 


37.  During  the  period  of  a  hundred  and  twenty  years,  be- 
tween the  beginning  of  the  eighteenth  century  and  the  close  of 
the  reign  of  George  III.  (in  1820),  very  considera-   Progress 
bL  progress  was  made  by  the  government  and  peo-   n^a^e. 

pie  of  Great  Britain.  Gradually  the  power  of  the  sovereign 
had  come  to  be  administered  through  his  counsellors  or  min- 
istry, rather  than  by  himself  personally. 

38.  The  condition  of  the  common  people  had  long  been 
one  of  hardship  and  suffering ;  but  in  the  early  part  of  the 
present  century,  even  amid  burdens  grievous  to  condition  of 
be  borne,  some  improvement  began  to  be  realized.  **»«  people. 
During  the  latter  part  of  the  general  European  war,  nearly 
a  million  of  people  were  engaged,  directly  and  indirectly,  in 
carrying  on  war's  destructive  work.  This  lessened  the  number 
of  laborers  at  home,  and  greatly  increased  the  demand  for 
some  products  needed  by  the  army ;  in  consequence  of  which, 
wages  became  more  remunerative,  and  afforded  a  better  sup- 
port to  the  poor.  Carpenters,  masons,  and  hand-loom  weavers, 
earned  variously,  in  Scotland  and  England,  from  seventeen  to 
twenty-five  shillings  per  week ;  while  field-hands  and  unskilled 
laborers  received  from  eleven  to  fifteen  shillings  for  the  same 
time. 

After  the  close  of  the  war,  many  of  the  industries  of  the 
country  were  less  profitable  :  employment  was  not  always  to  be 
found,  and  the  pay  was  greatly  reduced.  The  introduction  of 
the  power-loom  caused  much  distress  among  the  hand-weavers, 
compelling  them  to  labor,  for  sixteen  or  eighteen  hours  per 
day,  for  the  pittance  of  from  nine  to  sixteen  pence. 

Sg.  But  war-prices  of  bread,  meat,  clothing,  and  other  neces- 
saries of  life,  more  than  kept  pace  with  war-wages.  In  1792 
wheat  sold  for  five  shillings  and  tenpence  per  cost  of 
bushel,  while  in  1801  the  price  rose  to  twenty-two  wviug. 
shillings  and  sixpence.  Legislation  was  mostly  controlled  by 
land-owners,  and  hence  land-owners  and  farmers  were  pros- 
perous.    The  importation  of  wheat  was  prohibited  by  law. 


176 


HISTORY  OF  ENGLAND. 


[1820. 

7o1a^T^-  "'^T  '""'""  ^^  '^^  P"^^  »"gh>   ^nd   cattle 
could  not  be  introduced  from   abroad  on  any  terms     Tl    ! 

pnces  were  kept  high,  and  the  farmer  was  abfe  to  ™v  larl 

wr  wtiri?''*^^  T-'-^  ^''"^  thetbrri4^c.::2 

hnrah  ..  uncommon  occurrence.     In  Edin- 

burgh, at  one  time,  one-eiirhth  of  th^  n^^r^i^ 
bycharitv  ami  nt  p     ,  ^    "  °V      ^    ^^^  '^^''^  supported 
oy  cnar  ty ,  and  at  Paisley  the  whole  population  were  some 

times  absolutely  without  bread  or  meal     The  l^s  rates  of" 

rx^ctedT^  '""''^'  ^'^  -°"^^  ^'  breadZS  :: 
expected  to  consume. 

tax^^'o?'  '"'^rj  ""'  """^  ""^  8^^^"y  '■"'^^eased  by  hi^h 
taxes  on  many  of  the  comforts  of  life.     Tea  and  sugar  wL  so 

exorb.tontly  taxed,  that  their  use  was  much   Z 

^^.  f  :  ^  '  "^^  ""^  '^  «'»  salt  was  forty  times  the 
cost  of  ,ts  manufacture.  The  windows  of  houJweral 
^ed ;  and  th.s  compelled  many  poor  people  to  build  them  .^ 

1^  the  amount  7:^^^^  Z  ^.^^Z 
Its  manufacture.     Toward  the  close  of  the  eighteenth  cem' 
newspaper,  which  had  come  to  have  considefable  Su  nee  I' 
.^fivo^^'^r?  '"'''  '  """' ""'  "-'^  *"«-"«  was  frequen.  ; 

1814  fourpence  on  even,  copy  printed,  partly  for  revenue  Lu^ 
also  to  keep  them  from  the  common  people. 

The  aggregate  of  taxation  for  the  sunnnrt   ^r 
was  enormous.    At  the  close  of  Ih!  '"^P""*  °'^  government 
Colonie.:  it  „,c    K    !  ^  "'^'"  *"''  'h^  American 

SiXSn    Z  '.'"'"l°°^.P°"»d  f"'-  each  person  of  the  entire 
population,  and  in  1814  it  rosf>  ihr«r«  /;..«  .     - 

inhabitant.  ^"^^  ^'^  ^"""^^  f"'"  each 

41.  The  criminal  laws  of  Great  Britain  in  the  eighteenth 

Crimini         century  were  very  severe.     ITiev  deqi,rn,.„H 
i*w«.  ,),,_   ,   „  ,       ,  ' ,  *  '"^"  aesignated  more 

of   wh.vi,  ?  ^""'^'^'^   "P'»^'   offences,  three-fourths 

of  wh^ch  ong.nated  in  the  legislation  of  the  time  of ^ll^ 


1820.] 


T//E  HOUSE  OF  BRUNSWICK, 


177 


Georges.  Shooting  rabbits,  stealing  property  of  the  value  of 
five  shillings  or  more,  or  stealing  any  thing  from  a  bleach-field, 
appearing  in  disguise  on  the  highway,  cutting  down  young  trees' 
writing  threatening  letters  to  extort  money,  and  numerous  other 
similar  offences,  were  all  punishable  with  death.  In  18 16  one 
hundred  and  four  persons  were  convicted  of  forgery,  of  whom 
eigliteen  were  executed.  Felons  seemed  to  be  regarded  as 
mcapable  of  reform,  and  their  lives  as  useless  to  themselves  and 
to  society. 

42.  The  execution  of  the  laws  was  barbarous  in  the  extreme. 
^    The  bodies  of  persons  hanged  were  often  afterwards  beheaded 
and  cut  in  pieces,  and  exposed  in  public  places ;  Execution 
and  special  indignities  were  shown  to  those  con-  of  laws, 
victed  of  treason.     Prisons  were  small  and  unventilated,  with 
httle  light,  damp  floors,  and  without  beds,  and  infested  with 
vermin.   In  such  apartments,  prisoners  were  huddled 
together  irrespective  of  age  or  sex,  where  prison-   ^"'*'°'- 

fevers  and  other  diseases  often  found  more  victims  than  the 
law. 

Jailers  received  no  salary,  but  derived  their  income  from  sell- 
ing  food,  straw  for  bedding,  and  other  favors,  to  the  prisoners. 
Those  acquitted  of  crime  by  the  courts  were  obliged  to  pay  all 
dues  to  the  jailer  before  they  could  be  released ;  and  this  some- 
times resulted  in  additional  imprisonment  for  months,  and  even 
for  years. 

43-  In  the  latter  part  of  the  century,  John  Howard,  called 
the  "  Philanthropist,"  became  so  impressed  with  the  inhumanity 
of  the  English  prison  system,  that  he  heroically  set  t«»,   t, 

h\r  .  •,  -  -^  jonn  now- 

miself  to  work  to  secure  its  reform,  —  a  task  slow  ard. 

of  accomplishment,  but  one  which  eventually  resulted  in  great 
improvement  in  the  prisons  and  in  the  comfort  of  their  unfor- 
tunate inmates. 

44.  The  poor,  also,  about  this  time  began  to  receive  addi- 
tional attention.  The  magistrates  were  authorized,  by  a  special 
law,   to  contribute   to  their  relief  from  the  public  treasury. 


I7S 


h'/STOKV  OF  ENGLAND. 


[1820. 


This  power  was  too  freely  exercised ;  and  abuses  of  the  law  fol- 

The  poor.  ^^^^^^  ^^  ^^^^  ^"  ^^^^^^  ^^  ^^  greatly  increase  the 
number  of  paupers,  and  to  produce  among  the 
lower  classes  a  general  disinclination  to  labor.  The  expense, 
too,  became  alarming.  In  1801  the  aggregate  poor-rates  for 
England  and  Wales  were  four  milHon  pounds,  and  in  18 18  they 
reached  twice  that  sum.  This  burden  became  a  prominent 
subject  of  reform  in  a  subsequent  reign. 

45.  Trade  and  commerce  were  extended  in  all  directions. 
The  trade  with  the  American  Colonies  before  the  war  had  been 
Trade  and  Considerable,  but  after  that  event  it  was  greatly  in- 
commcrce.  creased.  Rice,  tobacco,  and  other  products  were 
extensively  imported ;  and,  from  the  West-India  Islands,  sugar 
was  obtained  in  large  quantities;  while  mahogany  and  other 
ornamental  woods,  and  logwood,  were  brought  from  the  Central- 
American  states,  and  especially  from  British  Honduras,  which 
had  been  acquired  in  1783. 

Many  vessels  and  much  capital  were  engaged  in  the  East- 
India  trade,  which  brought  to  England  a  great  variety  of  useful 
products,  and  yielded  a  revenue  to  the  government  and  large 
profits  to  the  adventurers.  The  trade  with  Holland  and  some 
other  European  countries  had  also  become  more  extended  and 
lucrative.  The  importation  of  foreign  commodities  added 
much  to  the  wealth  of  the  nation  and  to  the  comforts  of  the 
people. 

The  navigation  of  the  English  Channel  was  rendered  safer 
by  the  erection,  in  1759,  of  the  Eddystone  Lighthouse,  a  sub- 
stantial stone  structure,  on  a  dangerous  reef  of  rocks  on  the 
south  coast  of  England. 

46.  The  manufacturing  interest  was  prosperous,  and  great 
improvements  were  made.  This  was  noticeably  true  in  articles 
Manufac-  of  porcelain  and  earthenware.  In  1759  Wed^^wood 
turei.  established  an  ornamental  pottery,  and  soon  after 

produced  the  delicate  cream-colored  ware,  covered  with  a  glaze, 
called  by  his  name,  though  better  known  as  queen's  ware.     It 


1820.] 


TffE  HOUSE  OF  BRUNSWICK, 


179 


was  furnished  at  a  rate  which  brought  it  within  the  reach  of  the 
common  people.  He  also  executed  copies  of  antique  vases, 
sculpture,  and  cameos,  of  most  exquisite  workmanship.  This 
branch  of  manufactures  became  very  extensive  and  lucrative, 
and  did  much  to  refine  the  national  taste. 

About  the  middle  of  the  century,  forty  thousand  people  were 
engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  cutlery  at  Sheffield,  where  the 
business  had  been  introduced  in  the  fourteenth  century,  and 
fifty  thousand  were  employed  at  Birmingham  in  producing 
hardware,  and  various  articles  of  iron  and  steel. 

The  invention  of  the  spinning-jenny  and  other  machinery, 
and  the  use  of  steam,  gave  an  impulse  to  the  production  of 
silk,  woollen,  and  cotton  fabrics.  When  the  spinning-jennies 
were  first  introduced,  they  were  often  destroyed  by  the  ignorant 
hand-spinners,  who  feared  that  they  would  take  from  them  their 
occupation.  Steam-power  was  also  employed  in  many  of  the 
large  iron-works,  and  in  the  coal-mines,  which  had  come  to  be 
extensively  worked. 

47.  Agriculture   received    more  attention,   and  was  much 
improved.     Flower  and  vegetable  gardens  were  very  common 
among  all  classes :  the  potato  was  introduced  and 
cultivated,  and  became  an  article  of  common  food.   '^^""**"«- 
Before  1720,  greenhouses,  for  the  cultivation  of  flowers  and 
tropical  fruits,  had  been  introduced. 

48.  The  state  of  religion  was  low,  in  the  Established  Church 
and  among  dissenters,  in  the  early  part  of  the  eighteenth  cen- 
tury.    Many  of  the  clergy  were  better  known  for 

their  high  living,  worldly-mindedness,  and  their  '^^"^*°"- 
fondness  for  fox-hunting,  than  for  their  spiritual  gifts  and  min- 
istrations ;  and  among  laymen,  corruption  and  vice  were  fearfully 
prevalent.  But  later  in  the  century  there  was  an  improvement 
in  religion  and  morals,  brought  about  largely  by  the  preaching 
of  Whitefield  and  Wesley  and  their  followers.  Sabbath  schools 
were  established  by  Robert  Raikes  in  1781. 

49-  The  severe  laws  against  the  Catholics,  passed  in  the 


It  % 


I 


i 


1 80 


inSTOKY  OF  ENGLAND. 


[1820. 


reigii  of  William  and  Mary,  extended  their  imbittering  influence 
j^^^^  into  and  nearly  through  the  eighteenth  century, 

against  No  Catholic  could  teach  school,  hold  a  civil  office, 

Catholics.  ^^  conduct  any  religious  rites;  and  all  Catholic 
youth  were  obliged  to  abjure  their  religion  at  the  age  of  eigh- 
teen, or  forfeit  all  their  rights  to  property,  which  could  be 
claimed  by  their  l^otestant  relatives. 

An  act  was  passed  in  1 788,  called  the  Catholic  Relief  Bill, 
which  removed  those  disabilities,  except  in  relation  to  holding 
office.  This  law  met  with  much  opposition  among  Protestants, 
and  was  so  stoutly  resisted  in  Scotland,  that  it  could  not  be 
carried  into  operation.  In  London,  in  1 780,  it  occasioned  riots, 
which  continued  for  a  week,  and  were  suppressed  only  by  mili- 
tary power  after  the  loss  of  five  hundred  lives  and  the  destruction 
of  a  vast  amount  of  property. 

50.  The  general  literature  of  this  period  does  not  take  a  high 
rank.  In  1709  Steele  started  a  tri-weekly  publication,  called 
Literature  "The  Tatler,"  devoted  to  essays  rather  than  to 
and  authors,  news;  and  this  was  followed,  in  1711,  by  "The 
Spectator,"  a  daily  of  a  similar  character  conducted  by  Addison. 
The  essays  in  these  publications  were  of  a  high  order,  and  are 
regarded  as  models  of  good  style. 

The  number  of  noted  authors,  aside  from  those  already  men- 
tioned, in  the  reign  of  George  III.,  was  not  large.  Daniel 
Defoe,  a  miscellaneous  writer  of  considerable  power,  published 
in  1 719  "Robinson  Crusoe,"  a  work  of  remarkable  popularity; 
and  Dean  Swift,  a  celebrated  divine,  satirist,  and  wit,  gave  to 
the  worid  in  1726  "Gulliver*s  Travels,"  a  kind  of  satire  on 
mankind  and  the  institutions  of  civilized  countries.  Fielding, 
who  flourished  about  the  middle  of  the  century,  is  often  called 
the  father  of  the  English  novel ;  and  to  the  same  school  be- 
longed Richardson  and  Sraollet ;  but  the  merit  of  their  works 
has  not  secured  for  them  a  prominent  or  an  enduring  place  in 
literature. 

51.  The  introduction  of  many  articles  froin  China,  Japan, 


1820.] 


THE  HOUSE  OF  BRUNSWICK. 


181 


Fine  arts. 


and  India,  the  use  of  mahogany  and  other  ornamental  woods, 
and  the  improved  quality  of  some  kinds  of  house-  Articles  of 
hold  furniture,  such  as  chairs,  tables,  bedsteads,  and  comfort, 
cabinets,  gave  to  the  dwellings  of  all  classes  a  better  furnishing 
ajid  adornment.  Old  furniture  of  that  period  is  now  often 
sought  for  on  account  of  the  excellence  of  its  style  and  manu- 
facture. The  Kidderminster  carpets  began  to  be  made  about 
the  middle  of  the  century,  and  soon  after  came  into  general 
use  among  the  wealthier  classes. 

52.  The  fine  arts  were  not  neglected.    The  Royal  Academy 
of  Art  was  founded  in  1768 ;  and  the  names  of  Kneller,  West, 
Hogarth  (the  painter  of  morals  and  manners  in  high 
life,  as  well  as  low),  and  Reynolds  (the  founder  of 
the  English  school  of  painting),  are  classic  names  in  art.    Much 
progress  was  also  made  in  music  in  its  various  de-  ^^^,^ 
partments,  and  especially  in  sacred  music.     Many 

of  the  productions  of  that  period  are  still  in  use.     The  oratorio 
was  first  brought  out  in  London  by  Handel  in  1720. 

53.  The  state  of  society  can  hardly  be  spoken  of  in  terms 
of  praise.  The  principles  of  religion  and  morals  had  but  htde 
restraining  influence,  upon  the  people  in  domestic  state  of 
and  social  life.  The  men  were  much  given  to  dis-  society, 
sipation  and  gambling ;  and  the  women,  generally  very  ignorant, 
were  addicted  to  frivohty  and  gossip.  The  principal  amusements 
of  the  different  classes  were  hunting,  fishing,  music,  dancing, 
dice,  cards,  puppet-shows,  football,  fairs,  and  the  frequenting 
of  watering-places.  The  man  of  fashion  is  described  as  dressed 
in  a  cocked  hat,  powdered  wig,  and  gold-laced  scarlet  coat ; 
while  the  lady,  with  powdered  hair,  and  patches  upon  her  face, 
was  attired  in  flowered  brocades  and  immense  hoops. 

54.  But  there  was  an  improvement  in  society  during  the  latter 
part  of  this  period,  and  especially  after  the  close  of  the  Euro- 
pean war.     The  education  and  the  morals  of  the  Education 
better  classes  received  more  attention,  and  the  youth  and  morals. 
of  all  classes  began  to  receive  instruction  in  Sunday  schools. 


P 


l82 


ff IS  TORY  OF  ENGLAND. 


[182a 


Literary  clubs  were  formed ;  periodical  literature  became  quite 
common ;  bitterness  of  feeling  towards  the  Catholics  was  less- 
ened; and  the  general  tone  of  public  sentiment  was  more 
elevated  and  improved. 

55.  Several  events  of  general  importance  took  place  during 
Notable  the  period  now  under  review.     The  uniform  of  the 

event*.  English  navy  (blue  faced  with  white)  was  adopted 

by  George  11.  in  1748,  who  saw  and  admired  those  colors  in 
a  riding-dress  worn  by  the  Duchess  of  Bedford. 

In  1752  an  act  of  Parliament  changed  the  mode  of  reckoning 
time,  which  in  the  course  of  many  centuries,  since  the  adoption 
of  the  Julian  calendar,  had  ceased  to  be  correct.  Eleven  days, 
from  the  3d  to  the  14th  of  September,  were  left  out  of  the 
calendar ;  and  this  is  known  as  the  change  from  Old  Style  to 
New  Style,  so  called.  It  met  with  decided  opposition  among 
ignorant  people,  who  believed  that  it  had  shortened  their  lives 
by  that  number  of  days. 

The  first  canal  in  England  was  constructed  in  1755,  for  the 
purpose  of  carrying  coals  from  the  mines  to  Manchester. 

The  first  savings  bank  in  England  was  established  at  Totten- 
ham, in  1 798,  for  the  earnings  of  poor  children ;  and  the  first 
London  savings  bank  was  opened  in  1816. 

In  1805,  at  Methyr  Tydvil,  in  Wales,  a  steam-carriage  was 
first  drawn  over  an  iron  railway  by  a  locomotive,  carrying  ten 
tons  of  coal,  at  a  speed  of  five  miles  an  hour ;  and  the  first 
passenger  steamboat  in  Great  Britain,  called  "The  Comet," 
made  its  appearance  upon  the  Clyde  in  181 2. 

A  portion  of  London  was  lighted  by  gas  in  1807 ;  but  the 
measure  was  fiercely  opposed  by  capitalists  and  seamen,  who 
contended  that  it  would  throw  out  of  employment  thousands 
of  men  engaged  in  the  whaling  business  and  in  the  building  of 
whale-ships,  and  render  idle  millions  of  capital  invested  in  that 
enterprise.  No  agency  in  modern  times  has  interposed  so 
effectual  a  check  upon  the  commission  of  crime  in  cities  and 
towns  by  night  as  gaslights  in  the  streets. 


1820.] 


THE  HO. USE  OF  BRUNSWICK. 


183 


Population. 


In  181 7  a  new  bridge  over  the  Thames  in  London  was  com- 
pleted, and,  in  honor  of  the  recent  victory,  was  named  the 
Waterloo  Bridge.  It  is  nearly  fourteen  hundred  feet  long,  cost 
over  five  million  dollars,  and  is  regarded  as  one  of  the  finest 
bridges  in  the  world.  ( 

56.  The  population  of  England  and  Wales  is  believed  to 
have  been,  in  17 10,  somewhat  more  than  5,000,000;  that  of 
Scotland,  about  1,000,000;  and  of  Ireland,  more 
than  2,000,000  ;  making  a  total  of  over  7,000,000. 
The  first  official  census  of  England  was  in  1801,  but  it  is  not 
regarded  as  fully  reliable.  The  first  in  Ireland  was  in  182 1. 
In  1801  the  whole  population,  exclusive  of  Ireland,  was  about 
10,500,000,  and  in  181 1,  nearly  12,000,000.  Soon  after  the 
close  of  the  reign  of  George  III.  (1821),  the  total  population 
was  21,000,000,  of  which  more  than  6,000,000  belonged  to 

Ireland. 

The  population  of  London  in  1801  was  958,000;  in  181 1, 
1,138,000;  and  in  1821,  1,378,000.  Liverpool,  with  a  popu- 
lation of  5,000  in  1700,  rose  to  77,600  in  1801,  and  to  about 
119,000  in  1821.  Edinburgh  then  numbered  more  than  100,- 
000,  and  Glasgow,  147,000. 

57.  George  IV.,  who  succeeded  his  father  in  1820,  was  a 
man  of  talents  and  accomplishments :  but  his  life,  during  both 
his  youth  and  his  manhood,  had  been  marked  by  character  of 
great  prodigality  and  dissipation;  and  there  was  George iv. 
little  in  his  character  or  his  conduct,  while  a  sovereign,  to  entitle 
him  to  the  affection  or  respect  of  his  subjects.  While  a  prince, 
and  not  in  power,  he  connected  himself  with  the  opposition,  or 
Whigs ;  but,  both  as  regent  and  king,  he  adhered  to  the  Tories, 
to  the  neglect  of  his  former  friends. 

58.  Soon  after  the  accession  of  George  IV.  a  bill  for  divor- 
cing and  degrading  the  queen,  Caroline,  on  charges  Queen  Caro- 
of  misconduct,  was  introduced  into  the  House  of  "*»«• 
Lords,  and,  after  being  carried  by  a  vote  of  a  hundred  and  eight 
to  ninety-nine,  was  abandoned.    The  queen  died  soon  after. 


1 84 


mSTORY  OF  ENGLAND. 


fiS28. 


i 


% 


59.  The  Greeks  having  for  some  years  maintained  a  sangui- 
nary struggle  for  independence  against  the  Turks,  an  interpo- 
Greek  '  sition  in  their  favor  was  made  by  England,  France, 
affairs.  and  Russia ;  and  the  united  fleets  of  these  three 
powers  obtained,  in  1827,  a  great  victory  over  the  Turkish  and 
Egyptian  fleets  in  the  Bay  of  Navarino  (see  map,  p.  195). 

60.  In  1828  the  Corporation  and  Test  Act,  which  had  long 
operated  to  exclude  Catholics  and  Dissenters  from  all  corporate 
Relief  of  offices,  was  repealed ;  and  it  was  followed  (in  1829) 
Catholic*.  by  the  still  more  important  measure  of  Catholic 
emancipation.  By  this  act  the  laws  imposing  civil  disabilities 
on  Roman  Catholics  were  repealed ;  and  Daniel  O'Connell, 
the  Irish  agitator,  took  his  seat  in  the  House  of  Commons.  In 
addition  to  these  great  national  measures,  many  other  important 
alterations  and  improvements  were  made  in  the  laws  of  Great 
Britain  during  the  reign  of  George  IV.  The  penal  code  was 
improved  by  rendering  punishment  more  certain  and  much 
less  sanguinary. 

During  this  reign  (1824),  Lord  Byron  the  poet  died  at 
Missolonghi,  in  Greece. 

61.  George  IV.  was  succeeded  (in  1830)  by  his  brother,  the 
Duke  of  Clarence,  with  the  title  of  William  IV.  In  about 
William  IV.  ^  month  after  his  accession,  a  revolution  took  place 
aad  reform,  jn  France,  which  caused  the  dethronement  of 
Charles  X.  A  widespread  feeling  of  uneasiness  and  disaffec- 
tion was  felt  in  England,  and  the  country  was  alaniied  by 
numerous  incendiary  fires.  For  many  years  the  subject  of  a 
reform  of  the  representation  of  the  people  in  the  House  of 
Commons  had  been  much  agitated,  and  it  was  now  more  loudly 
called  for  than  ever  before.  On  the  meeting  of  the  new 
Parliament,  the  Duke  of  Wellington,  the  prime-minister,  un- 
expectedly expressed  himself  strongly  against  any  reform ;  but 
the  duke  and  his  colleagues,  not  finding  themselves  supported 
by  a  majority  of  the  House  of  Commons,  resigned,  and  were 
succeeded  by  a  Whig  ministry,  with  Earl  Grey  at  the  head. 


1837.] 


THE  HOUSE  OF  BRUNSWICK. 


1^^5 


62.  On  the  I  St  of  March,  1831,  Lord  John  Russell,  as  the 
organ  of  the  cabinet,  brought  into  Pariiament  the  first  reform 
bill ;  but  this  bill,  and  also  a  second  one,  the  min-  Reforms 
istry  failed  to  carry  through  both  Houses.  But  a  secured. 
third  bill  was,  after  a  violent  struggle,  carried,  and  enacted  into 
a  law,  in  June,  1832.  This  important  measure,  which  renders 
the  House  of  Commons  a  body  much  more  eflectually  repre- 
senting the  people,  occupied  the  greater  part  of  the  first  two 
years  of  the  reign  of  William,  to  the  exclusion  of  almost  all 
other  measures.  The  first  Pariiament  elected  under  the  new 
system  assembled  in  January,  1833;  and  the  reform  of  the 
representation  was  soon  followed  by  the  reform  of  the  Irish 
Church,  and  the  abolition  of  slavery  in  the  British  West  Indies. 
William  Wilberforce  was  the  foremost  champion  of  this  last- 
named  measure,  by  which  eight  hundred  thousand  slaves  were 
set  free  (1834),  and  twenty  million  pounds  were  paid  to  their 
owners  as  compensation. 

For  a  long  time  the  poor-laws  had  worked  great  harm  to 
society,  by  their  encouragement  of  pauperism  and  their  inter- 
ference with  honest  industry.  A  commission  was 
appointed  in  1832,  whose  investigations  led  to  the 
enactment  of  a  law  (1834)  which  established  work-houses  for 
the  able-bodied  poor,  and  a  judicious  system  of  dispensing 
relief  to  the  infirm  and  helpless.  The  beneficial  effects  of  this 
act  were  soon  apparent  in  a  great  reduction  of  poor-rates,  and 
in  the  improved  condition  of  the  poor. 

In  1835  a  much-needed  reform  took  place  in  the  local  man- 
agement of  towns  and  municipalities.  Their  officers  had  been 
almost  self-appointed.  Funds  were  expended  with-  Municipal 
out  being  accounted  for,  the  administration  of  government, 
justice  had  been  neglected,  and  general  corruption  prevailed. 
A  new  law  placed  incorporated  towns  under  the  control  of  a 
mayor,  aldermen  and  council,  elected  by  resident  tax-payers. 

The  criminal  laws  received  the  attention  of  the  reform  party. 
While  convictions  under  those  laws  had  been  comparatively 
easy,  the  execution  of  the  laws  was  attended  with  great  un- 


Poor-laws. 


li 


1 86 


HISTORY  OF  ENGLAND, 


[1837. 


certainty;  and  crime  had  long  been  on  the  increase.  In  1824 
more  than  a  thousand  persons  were  condemned  to  death,  of 
Criminal  whom  Only  forty  were  executed.  There  were  then 
laws.  thirty-one  offences  punishable  by  death ;  but,  previ- 

ous to  1837,  that  penalty  was  abolished  for  twenty- one  of  those 
crimes ;  and  in  that  year  the  convictions  were  reduced  to  less 
than  one-half  their  previous  number.  It  was  found  that  the 
prevention  of  crime  was  not  secured  so  effectually  by  the  severity 
of  law,  as  by  the  certainty  of  its  execution. 

In  1834  the  charter  of  the  East  India  Company  was  re- 
newed, with  important  modifications. 

Sir  Walter  Scott,  the  distinguished  novelist  and  poet,  whose 
name  and  genius  have  become  indelibly  associated  with  Scottish 
history,  social  Ufe,  and  scenery,  died  during  this  reign,  in  1832. 

63.  William  IV.  had  been  a  sailor  in  his  youth,  and  had  the 
free  and  easy  manners  of  that  class.  He  was  a  hearty  friend 
Character  of  ^^  reform,  ruled  with  justice,  and  was  beloved  by 
wmiamiv.  his  people.  His  death  occurred,  at  the  age  of 
seventy-two,  in  1837. 


'i 


CHAPTER  VI. 

THE    HOUSE    OF   BRUNSWICK  (PART   II.). 

From  1837  to  the  present  time. 

Victoria. 

VICTORIA,  who  came  to  the  throne  in  1837  at  the  age 
of  eighteen  years,  was  the-  daughter  of  the  Duke  of  Kent, 
and  a  niece  of  the  late  king,  William  IV.  She  had  Auspicious 
been  carefully  educated,  was  of  pleasing  manners,  beginning, 
and  of  great  amiability,  and  firmness  of  character.  Her  acces- 
sion was  the  occasion  of  much  rejoicing  among  her  people,  and 
gave  promise  of  an  auspicious  reign ;  which  subsequent  events 
have  fulfilled.  In  1840  she  married  her  cousin,  Prince  Albert 
of  Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. 

2.  The  little  kingdom  of  Hanover  in  Germany,  since  the 
time  of  George  I.,  had  been  an  appendage  to  England,  and 
was  under  the  same  sovereign,  though  with  an  in-   union  with 
dependent  administration  :   but,  as  the  law  of  sue-   Hanover 
cession  in  Hanover  does  not  allow  females  to  occupy 

the  throne,  the  union  with  Great  Britain  was  dissolved  upon 
the  accession  of  Victoria,  and  this  state  became  once  more 
independent. 

3.  The  youthful  queen  did  not  find  her  kingdom  entirely 
peaceful  and  harmonious.     In  some  of  the  colonies  there  was 
much  dissatisfaction  with  the  government ;  and  at  sources  of 
home  great  discontent  prevailed  among  the  labor-   discontent, 
ing  classes  on  account  of  low  wages,  want  of  employment,  and 
the  high  price  of  provisions.     In  the  manufacturing  districts 

187 


Hi 


1 88 


HISTORY  OF  ENGLAND. 


[1838. 


Chartism. 


Strikes  were  common  among  the  operatives,  and  at  one  time 
fifty  thousand  people  in  Scotland  were  out  of  employment  on 
that  account ;  but  the  arrest  of  some  of  the  ringleaders,  who 
were  intimidating  new  laborers,  soon  restored  quiet  and  a  re- 
newal of  business. 

4.  In  1838  a  class  of  agitators  for  reform,  called  "  Chartists," 
began  to  occupy  a  large  share  of  public  attention.  In  a  docu- 
ment called  by  them  the  people's  charter  their 
principles  were  set  forth  under  six  heads:  i.  Uni- 
versal suffrage ;  2.  Vote  by  ballot ;  3.  Paid  representatives  in 
Parliament;  4.  Equal  electoral  districts;  5.  The  abolition  of 
the  property  qualification  ;  and,  6.  Annual  parliaments.  These 
subjects  were  widely  discussed  at  mass  meetings  numerously 
attended ;  and  in  1839  the  charter,  signed  by  a  large  number  of 
people,  was  presented  to  Pariiament.  Its  refusal  by  that  body 
led  to  some  scenes  of  riot  and  violence ;  but  the  government 
soon  restored  order. 

5.  Chartism  was  apparently  thrust  aside  for  several  years  by 
the  Anti-Com-Law  League,  —  an  organization  formed  in  1838 

for  the  repeal  of  all  duties  on  breadstuffs.  Richard 
Cobden  and  John  Bright,  two  of  England's  ablest 
statesmen,  were  zealous  advocates  for  this  measure ;  and  after 
much  agitation  the  repeal  was  passed  in  1846,  and  carried  fully 
into  effect  in  1849.  The  navigation  laws  passed  in  the  time 
of  Cromwell,  and  which  were  now  considered  a  restriction  upon 
trade,  were  repealed  the  same  year. 

6.  Upon  the  occurrence  of  a  revolution  in  France  in  1848, 
chartism  was  revived  for  a  time  in  Great  Britain,  and  many 
Chartism  re-  threatening  demonstrations  were  made  throughout 
vived.  the  country.  These  were  successfully  quelled  by 
the  government ;  and,  after  the  presentation  in  Parliament  of  a 
monster  petition  in  favor  of  the  people's  charter,  the  movement 
seemed  to  lose  its  organization,  and  soon  passed  from  public 
notice. 

7.  In  1841,  under  the  leadership  of  Daniel  O'Connell,  the  sub- 


Corn-laws. 


1841] 


THE  HOUSE  OF  BRUNSWICK. 


189 


ject  of  a  repeal  of  the  union  between  Ireland  and  Great  Britain 
was  extensively  agitated.     Mass  meetings  were  held   separation 
throughout    Ireland,   inflammatory   speeches   were  of  Ireland 

,  .  -1    J        mi_  attempted. 

made,  and  great  excitement  prevailed,  ine  gov- 
ernment finally  took  measures  to  prevent  the  riotous  assembling 
of  the  people.  O'Connell  and  some  of  his  followers  were  tried, 
and  convicted  of  sedition ;'  but  the  House  of  Lords  reversed 
the  judgment,  and  they  were  set  at  liberty.  The  leaders  of  a 
similar  agitation  in  1848  were  transported  for  life,  some  of  whom 
escaped  to  the  United  States. 

8.  One  of  the  most  beneficent  influences  upon  social  and 
domestic  life  at  this  time  was  the  result  of  an  extensive  tem- 
perance reformation,  which  began  in  Ireland  in  Temperance 
1 84 1  under  the  direction  of  Father  Mathew,  an  "^^^o""™- 
Irish  priest.  Its  effect  in  relieving  poverty  and  diminishing 
crime  was  most  salutary.  Numerous  temperance  societies 
named  from  Father  Mathew  were  organized,  and  the  movement 
extended  to  other  countries. 

9.  In  1843  more  than  a  third  of  all  the  ministers  of  the 
Established  Church  of  Scodand  seceded,  in  order  to  free  them- 
selves from  the  interference  of  the  civil  courts  in  Scottish  Free 
ecclesiastical  matters.  This  movement  caused  Church, 
much  excitement,  and  resulted  in  the  formation  of  what  has 
since  been  known  as  the  Free  Church  of  Scotland. 

10.  Ireland  experienced  one  of  the  most  terrible  famines  in 
modem  times  in  consequence  of  the  failure  of  the  potato-crop 
in  that  country  in  1846-47.     Most  shocking  scenes  Famine  in 
of  suffering  and  death  by  starvation  were  witnessed  I'^iand. 

on  all  sides.  The  government  generously  ministered  to  the 
relief  of  the  suffering ;  and  a  national  vessel  was  sent  from  the 
United  States,  laden  with  supplies  purchased  by  private  contri- 
bution. 

11.  A  most  notable  event  occurred  in  London  in  1851, 
known  as  "The  World's  Fair,"  or  exhibition  of  the  industry  of 
all  nations.     It  took  place  in  a  mammoth  building  called  "  The 


190 


HISTORY  OF  ENGLAND. 


[1861 


Prince 
Albert. 


Crystal  Palace,"  constructed  mostly  of  iron  and  glass,  and  was 
World'.  participated  in  by  nations  in  all  parts  of  the  globe. 
'"'•  This  project   originated  with  the   prince-consort; 

and  its  influence  upon  the  social  and  industrial  interests  of  the 
world  was  so  apparent,  that  it  has  since  been  imitated,  with  some 
improvements,  by  several  countries. 

12.  Prince  Albert,  the  husband  of  the  queen,  died  in  Decem- 
Deathof        ^er»  1^6 1,  much  lamented.      He  was  a  man   of 

refined  tastes,  a  friend  of  progress,  and  a  benefactor 
to  the  poor  and  to  all  charitable  institutions.    To 

the  queen  he  was  a  wise  and  judicious  counsellor,  and  was 

greatly  beloved  by  the  people. 

13.  Several  wars  have  taken  place  in  the  British  Colonies 
and  with  foreign  nations  during  the  reign  of  the  present  sov- 
Canadian  creign,  and  there  have  also  been  some  important 
rebeuion.  changes  and  events  in  colonial  administration. 
Upper  and  Lower  Canada  had  for  some  time  been  in  a  dis- 
turbed state ;  and  in  1837  an  insurrection  broke  out,  which  was 
put  down  after  great  alarm  and  some  bloodshed.  In  1840  the 
two  provinces  were  united  under  a  constitutional  government. 

14.  The  Afghan  war  was  between  1838  and  1842.  England 
undertook  to  support  the  Afghans  against  Persia,  and  finally  to 

Afghan  war.  P^^^^  °"  ^^^^'"  ^^^°"^  ^  P^^"^^  ^^  ^  ^orm^r  reigning 
house,  to  maintain  whose  authority  a  small  English 
force  was  left  in  Cabul.  Violent  opposition  to  the  new  rule 
sprang  up.  These  troops,  seeing  their  danger,  attempted  to 
cut  their  way  to  Jelalabad,  and  were  neariy  destroyed.  A  fresh 
English  force,  in  turn,  destroyed  Cabul ;  but  Afghanistan  was 
abandoned.  During  this  war,  Scinde,  a  rich  territory  around  the 
lower  waters  of  the  Indus,  was  annexed  to  British  India  by  Sir 
Conquests  Charfcs  Napier.  The  Sikhs,  living  in  the  district 
in  India.  called  the  Punjab,  north  of  Scinde,  invaded  the  Brit- 
ish territories  in  1845  ;  and  a  war  followed,  which  ended  in  the 
annexation  of  their  country  also  to  the  British  domain.  These 
conquests  secured  to  British  India  the  whole  peninsula  of  Hin- 


1852.] 


THE  HOUSE  OF  BRUNSWICK. 


191 


dostan.  In  1852  a  war  with  Birmah  resulted  in  the  acquisition 
of  Puge;  and  in  1856  the  kingdom  of  Oude,  long  under 
British  protection,  was  formally  annexed,  on  the.  ground  of 
extreme  misgovemment. 


»o 


Jelalabad 
Cabul* 


BKITISH  INDIA. 


MAP  OF  INDIA. 


15.  The  English  army  in  India  is  largely  composed  of  sepoys, 
or  native  soldiers.     Early  in  1857  there  were  signs  of  a  muti- 
nous spirit  in  the  Bengal  division,  which  was  by  far  sepoy 
the  largest,  and  contained  many  high-caste  sepoys,  rebellion. 
The  government  had  resolved  to  arm  the  troops  with  Enfield 


I,    . 


19a 


HISTORY  OF  ENGLAND. 


[1857. 


rifles,  in  the  use  of  which  greased  cartridges  were  employed. 
A  belief  spread  among  the  native  troops  that  this  was  an 
attempt  to  make  them  give  up  their  religion  by  compelling 
them  to  bite  the  fat  of  swine  and  cows :  the  use  of  the  former 
being  defilement  to  the  Mohammedan  ;  and  of  the  latter,  sacri- 
lege to  the  Hindoo.  Although  the  old  cartridges  were  still 
used,  the  greatest  excitement  prevailed,  and  the  discontent 
spread  like  wildfire. 

16.  The  first  outbreaks  were  quelled;  but  in  May  several 
regiments  mutinied  at  Meerut,  killed  their  English  officers,  and 

marched  to  Delhi,  where  the  garrison  joined  them. 
Cawnpore,  The  Europeans  were  massacred,  and  Delhi  became 
and  Luck-  the  rallying-point  of  the  rebellion.  Several  thou- 
'*°^'  sand  sepoys  also  revolted  at  Cawnpore,  and  placed 

themselves  under  the  Nana-Sahib.  Few  native  regiments  could 
be*  trusted  I  and  the  European  troops  were  too  few  to  check 
the  mutiny,  which  now  spread  with  frightful  rapidity.  The 
scenes  at  Delhi  were  repeated  at  Benares,  Allahabad,  Futteh- 
poor,  and  all  over  Oude,  where  many  Bengal  sepoys  had  been 
recruited.  The  rebels  gradually  gathered  around  Lucknow, 
and  began  to  besiege  the  Europeans  there  about  July  i. 

17.  The  first  movements  of  the  English  were  against  Delhi. 
The  memorable  siege  of  this  city  lasted  from  June  till  Septem- 
Memorabie  ber,  and  it  was  taken  only  after  the  most  desperate 
sieges.  fighting  within  as  well  as  without  the  walls.  Mean- 
time Gen.  Havelock  moved  with  a  small  force  from  Allahabad 
towards  Cawnpore,  where  a  few  English  were  besieged  by  the 
Nana-Sahib,  who,  on  the  approach  of  Havelock,  murdered 
them  all  with  horrible  atrocities.  He,  after  defeating  the  Nana 
in  several  battles,  marched  to  relieve  Lucknow,  where  a  garrison 
of  less  than  a  thousand  was  holding  out  against  ten  thousand 
rebels.  He  fought  his  way  into  the  city  with  dreadful  loss,  and 
staid  with  the  besieged  until  November,  when  Sir  Colin  Camp- 
bell relieved  them,  and  withdrew  his  troops  to  Cawnpore,  which, 
after  a  great  battle  with  the  Nana-Sahib,  was  made  a  centre  of 


' 


1859.1 


THE  HOUSE  OF  BRUNSWICK, 


193 


operations  against  Oude.  Troops  had  now  arrived  from  Eng- 
land, and  the  rebels  were  followed  up  with  great  vigor.  Early 
in  1859  the  revolt  was  at  an  end.  The  horrible  outrages  on 
men,  women,  and  children,  and  the  relentless  punishment  of 
their  perpetrators,  have  no  parallel  in  modem  history.  One  of 
the  most  important  results  of  the  mutiny  was  the  transfer  by 
Parliament  of  the  government  of  India  from  the  East-India 
Company  to  the  British  Queen,  the  company  remaining  simply 
a  commercial  corporation. 


SKETCH  MAP 

OP 

O  EASTERN  CHINA 
ANJJViciKirr. 


KAP  OF  CHIKA. 


18.  The  principal  military  operations  of  the  British  with 
China,  in  the  present  reign,  have  originated  mainly  in  commer- 
cial difficulties.      The  importation  of  opium  was  warwith 
forbidden  by  the  Chinese  Government ;  but  English  ^^^°^- 
merchants  smuggled  the  drug  over  the  frontier.     Its  seizure  ted 
to  a  war,  by  which  China  was  compelled  (1842)  to  cede  Hong 


194 


HISTORY  OF  ENGLAND. 


V^n 


1853.] 


THE  HOUSE  OF  BRUNSWICIC, 


195 


* 


Kong,  and  pay  twenty-one  million  dollars  to  Great  Britain,  and 
to  open  five  seaports  to  British  commerce.  In  1857  the 
Chinese  were  charged  with  having  broken  their  treaties ;  but  it 
was  not  until  the  sepoy  rebellion  in  India  was  quelled,  that, 
some  massacres  having  occurred  in  Chinese  waters,  France  and 
England  formed  an  alliance  against  the  aggressors.  They 
captured  Canton,  and  negotiations  were  begun;  but  in  1859 
the  war  was  renewed.  The  allies  were  at  first  repulsed  on  the 
Pei  Ho  River ;  but  the  next  year  the  forts  and  Tien-tsin  were 
taken ;  and  the  Chinese,  being  defeated  near  Pekin,  came  to 
terms,  and  this  inglorious  war  was  ended  by  a  commercial 
treaty. 

19.  Since  the  time  of  Napoleon,  a  compact  has  existed 
among  the  five  great  powers  of  Europe  —  England,  France, 
The  balance  Prussia,  Russia,  and  Austria  —  to  preserve  what  is 
of  power.  called  the  balance  of  power;  that  is,  ostensibly  to 
protect  the  smaller  states  against  the  encroachments  of  the 
larger  ones,  and  to  prevent  any  one  state  or  sovereign  from 
exercising  an  undue  influence  in  the  affairs  of  other  states.  In 
pursuance  of  this  policy,  England  has  twice,  during  the  present 
reign,  been  drawn  into  collision  with  the  Eastern  powers. 

20.  In  1840  Mehemet-Ali  {Mdhemet  Ah'le),  Pacha  or  Vice- 
roy of  Egypt,  revolted  against  the  Turkish  Government,  and  also 
Rebellion  in  attempted,  with  some  success,  to  get  possession  of 
Egypt.  Syria.  France  remained  neutral  upon  the  subject, 
but  was  suspected  of  sympathizing  with  Mehemet,  either  for 
the  purpose  of  placing  him  upon  the  Turkish  throne,  to  which 
Abdul-Medjid  had  just  succeeded  at  the  age  of  seventeen 
years,  or  to  lessen  Turkish  influence  by  making  Egypt  and 
Syria  an  independent  kingdom.  The  other  allies  interfered. 
A  fleet,  under  the  command  of  Sir  Charles  Napier,  soon  cap- 
tured Acre,  the  key  of  Syria,  and  Beyroot,  and  then  made  its 
appearance  in  the  harlx)r  of  Alexandria.  A  treaty  soon  followed 
with  Mehemet,  making  the  viceroyalty  of  Egypt  hereditary  in 
his  family ;  since  which  Egypt  has  been,  in  all  respects  except 
|he  name,  an  independent  state. 


21.  The   other  interference   in  the   affairs   of  the   Eastern 
powers  was  in  the  Crimean  war,  which  began  in  1853.     Russia 
had  demanded  to  be  named  protector  of  the  Greek  The  Crimean 
Christians  in  the  Turkish  Empire.     By  the  advice  ^"• 
of  England  and  France,  this  demand  was  refused ;   and  the 


/'t    SEJL. 


TO  ILLUSTRATE  CRIMEAN  WAR.      GREECE  IN   1827,  AND  THE  ALUED  FLEET  AT 

ALEXANDRIA  IN   184O. 

Czar  at  once  occupied  the  Danubian  principalities  where  these 
Christians  lived.  The  Russians,  failing  to  take  Silistria,  were 
defeated  on  the  Danube,  and  withdrew  from  Turkish  terri- 
tory. Meantime  the  allied  fleets  blockaded  the  Russian  fleet 
in  the  harbor  of  Sebastopol,  in  the  Crimea;  and  the  reduction 


196 


HISTORY  OF  ENGLAND. 


[I8SS 


Jm 


I 


of  this  strongly-fortified  city  became  the  main  purpose  of  the 
allies,  whom  Sardinia  now  joined.  In  the  course  of  this  siege 
were  fought  the  battles  of  the  Alma,  of  Balaklava  (where  the 
"six  hundred"  made  their  famous  charge),  of  Inkerman,  and 
of  the  Tchemaya;  and  furious  assaults  were  made  on  the 
Russian  works,  especially  upon  the  battery  of  the  Malakoff, 
which  was  captured  by  the  French,  and  that  of  the  Redan, 
upon  which  an  attempt  of  the  English  failed.  After  sustaining 
a  siege  of  eleven  months,  Sebastopol  was  evacuated  Sept.  9, 
1855  ;  and  a  treaty  of  peace  was  signed  in  the  following  year. 

22.  England  undertook  some  naval  operations  against  Russia 
in  the  Baltic  Sea,  but  with  very  small  results.  The  losses  to  all 
Florence  parties  in  this  war  were  immense.  The  allies 
Nightingale,  suffered  terribly  from  disease ;  and  it  was  by  her 
efforts  to  improve  the  hospital  service,  and  relieve  the  wants  of 
the  soldiers  in  the  Crimea,  that  the  name  of  Florence  Nightin- 
gale became  so  memorable.  She  visited  hospital  and  camp, 
and,  like  an  angel  of  mercy,  everywhere  min'stered  to  the  sick, 
the  wounded,  and  dying;  one  poor  soldier  remarking,  that, 
owing  to  the  large  numbers  in  the  hospital,  all  could  not  be 
spoken  to  or  receive  a  recognition  by  her ;  "  yet,"  said  he,  "  we 
could  kiss  her  shadow  as  it  fell,  and  lay  our  heads  on  our  pillows 
content." 

23.  The  discovery  of  rich  gold  mines,  also  of  deposits  of 
iron,  copper,  and  coal,  in  New  South  Wales  and  Victoria,  in 

1850,  formed  an  era  in  the  history  of  the  Australian 
colonies.  Liberal  constitutions  were  granted  to 
them  at  about  the  same  time,  since  which  they  have  enjoyed  a 
rapid  and  prosperous  growth.  The  agricultural  and  mineral 
resources  of  the  country  have  been  extensively  developed,  and 
a  large  population  now  finds  occupation  and  support  in  this 
distant  portion  of  the  British  Empire. 

24.  Among  the  public  enactments  and  leading  measures  of 
Victoria's  reign,  there  are  some  which  reflect  great  credit .  upon 
the  government  and  the  leading  statesmen  by  whom   they 


Australift. 


i  \ 


1858.1 


THE  HOUSE  OF  BRUNSWICK. 


197 


were  initiated  and  carried  out.  In  1840  the  penny-postage 
bill  was  passed,  reducing  the  rates  on  letters,  which  Penny 
had  previously  been  very  high,  to  one  penny  for  postage, 
all  distances,  and  establishing  also  the  money-order  system. 
This  measure  was  at  once  felt  to  be  a  public  convenience  in 
business  and  social  life,  and  a  relief  from  a  heavy  tax  on  corre- 
spondence. 

25.  In  1858  an  act  was  passed  modifying  the  oath  required 
of  members  of  Parliament,  so  as  to  make  Jews  jg^ish  dis- 
eligible  to  that  body.     A  few  years  later  the  elec-  abilities, 
tive  franchise  was  gready  extended  in  Wales,  Ire-     "*^^*ee. 
land,  and  Scotland,  thereby  giving  to  the  people  greater  power 
and  influence. 

26.  By  a  land  bill  (1869)  the  peasants  of  Ireland  were 
allowed  to  acquire  an  interest  in  the  soil  which  they  cultivated 
and  in  its  improvement,  and  a  prospective  owner-  irisj,  land 
ship  of  the  same.  This  measure  conferred  sub-  *»»"• 
stantial  benefit  upon  the  country,  lessened  political  excitement, 
checked  emigration,  improved  agriculture,  and  increased  the 
demand  for  labor,  with  a  greater  remuneration. 

27.  A  long-standing  source  of  discontent  among  the  Catholic 
population  of  Ireland  was  the  tax  which  they  were  compelled 
to  pay  for  the  support  of  the  Established  Church  Disestabiish- 
of  Great  Britain.  In  1868' Mr.  Gladstone  intro-  mentofthe 
duced  a  bill  into  Pariiament  to  disestablish  the  Irish  ^"^^^  ^*'"'*=*'- 
Church,  and  to  make  the  support  of  religion  among  all  sects  a 
voluntary  matter.  This  bill  met  with  violent  opposition,  but 
was  passed,  and  went  into  operation  in  1870.  It  was*  an  act 
eminently  wise,  and  does  tardy  justice  to  an  oppressed  people, 
who  for  centuries  have  been  compelled  to  support  a  church 
with  which  they  had  no  sympathy. 

28.  Another  measure  of  great  importance  was  the  education 
bill  of  1870,  establishing  a  system  of  public  schools,   Education 
which  are  fast  bringing  the  elements  of  an  English  ***"• 
education  within  reach  of  every  child  in  England.     Extraor- 


*  nm 
i  ^1 


I' 


'I 


fr 


I 


198 


HISTORY  OF  ENGLAND, 


[1872. 


dinar}'  activity  has  been  displayed  in  the  erection  of  school- 
houses,  the  organization  of  schools,  and  in  aiding  the  lower 
classes,  so  that  poverty  shall  be  no  bar  to  a  common-school 
education.  Already  there  is  a  diminution  of  that  class  of 
crimes  common  among  ignorant  people,  and  educated  labor  is 
receiving  a  better  reward. 

29.  During  the  late  civil  war  in  the  United  States,  American 
commerce  suffered  extensively  from  privateers  built  and  fitted 
Alabama  out  in  English  ports.  At  the  close  of  the  war  the 
claims.  United-States  Government  claimed  of  Great  Britain 

damages  for  these  depredations,  on  the  ground  that  no  efforts 
were  made  to  prevent  the  privateers  from  leaving  British  ports. 
These  claims  were  known  as  the  Alabama  claims,  from  the 
name  of  one  of  the  privateers.  After  some  negotiations  at 
Washington  between  the  two  governments,  the  matter  was  re- 
ferred to  a  board  of  arbitration  composed  of  representatives 
of  five  different  nations ;  viz.,  the  United  States,  Great  Britain, 
Italy,  Brazil,  and  Switzerland.  This  board  met  at  Geneva  in 
1872,  and  awarded  to  the  United  States  the  sum  of  fifteen 
million  dollars,  which  was  promptly  paid  by  the  British  Govern- 
ment. 

30.  In  1875  the  Prince  of  Wales  made  a  visit  to  British 
Empress  of  India,  where  he  was  received  with  great  enthusi- 
india.  asm;  and,  upon  his  return,  the  Queen  added  to 
her  former  tide  that  of  Empress  of  India. 

31.  The  subject  of  United-States  fisheries  in  British-Ameri- 
can waters  became  a  matter  of  arbitration  in  1877,  at  Halifax  in 

Nova  Scotia,  before  a  board  called  the  "  Fish  Com- 
mission," composed  of  one  person  appointed  by  the 
United  States,  one  by  Great  Britain,  and  the  Belgian  minister  at 
Washington.  The  question  at  issue  was,  whether  the  advantage 
accruing  to  the  United  States  for  taking  fish  in  British-American 
waters  was  greater  or  less  than  the  benefits  derived  by  the 
British-American  Colonies  by  having  entry  for  their  fish  free  of 
duty  in  United-States  markets.    The  decision  of  the  arbitrators 


Pish  award. 


1878.] 


THE  HOUSE  OF  BRUNSWICK. 


199 


Cyprus. 


was  not  unanimous ;  but  a  majority  adjudged  that  the  United 
States  must  pay  to  Great  Britain  a  balance  of  values  of  five 
million  five  hundred  thousand  dollars.  Although  this  award 
was  considered  by  the  United  States  as  excessive,  Congress 
appropriated  the  money  for  its  payment  in  June,  1878 ;  and  it 
was  paid  to  the  British  Government  in  November  following. 

32.  In  1877-78  hostilities  existed  between  Russia  and  Tur- 
key, originating  principally  in  difficulties  concerning  the  pro- 
tection of  Greek  Christians  in  the  European  provinces  tributary 
to  Turkey.  This  war  was  terminated  by  the  Treaty  of  Berlin, 
July,  1878;  but,  a  few  weeks  previous  to  that  event,  a  de- 
fensive treaty  was  secretly  made  in  1878  between  Great  Britain 
and  Turkey,  by  which  the  former  power  guarantees  a.  con- 
ditional protectorate  of  certain  Turkish  provinces  in 
Asia,  and  is  allowed,  in  return,  to  occupy  and  ad- 
minister the  Island  of  Cyprus,  upon  the  annual  payment  to 
Turkey  of  the  present  excess  of  the  revenue  of  the  island  over 
its  expenditures.  English  occupation  of  C>T)rus  is  to  terminate, 
however,  in  case  certain  provinces  recently  acquired  by  Russia 
are  restored  to  Turkey. 

33.  In  the  autumn  of  1878  a  Russian  envoy  arrived  at 
Cabul,  the  capital  of  Afghanistan,  and  was  kindly  received  by 
the  ameer.  Soon  after,  an  embassy  from  British 
India  arrived  to  inquire  the  purpose  of  such  a  step, 
and  to  guard  British  interests.  This  embassy  was  not  allowed 
to  enter  the  country.  By  order  of  the  home  government, 
armed  forces  were  sent  from  India ;  one  division  going  by  the 
Khyber  Pass,  who  soon  took  and  occupied  Jelalabad  and  some 
other  places.  The  ameer,  Shere  Ali,  fled  from  the  country, 
and  died  soon  after,  leaving  affairs  in  the  hands  of  his  son, 
Yakoob  Khan,  who  succeeded  him  as  ameer.  A  treaty  was 
made,  the  terms  of  which  were,  that  a  British  agent  might 
reside  at  Cabul ;  the  foreign  affairs  of  the  ameer  were  to  be 
conducted  under  British  advice ;  and  Great  Britain  was  to  de- 
fend the  ameer  against  foreign  invasion,  and  to  pay  him  an 


Afghaa  war. 


^     •■: 


i 


I 


aoo 


HISTORY  OF  ENGLAND. 


[1879. 


• 
annual  subsidy  of  sixty  thousand  pounds.     The  Khyber  and 
Mincee  mountain-passes  were  also  to  be  under  British  control. 
After  signing  the  treaty,  the  ameer  issued  a  proclamation  of  gen- 
eral amnesty,  and  of  peace  and  friendship  with  the  British  people. 
But,  owing  to  the  treachery  or  the  inefficiency  of  the  ameer, 
peace  did  not  immediately  follow.    The  Afghan  soldiers  became 
dissatisfied  concerning  their  pay,  and  a  mutiny  took   place; 
when,  accompanied  by  a  mob,  they  attacked  the  British  Resi- 
dency at  the  palace  and  citadel  of  Bala-Hissar  in  Cabul,  and 
murdered   the  British   envoy  and   minister.  Major  Cavagnari, 
with  nearly  all  his  officers  and  escort.     The  British  forces  in 
three  divisions,  under  Gen.  Roberts  and  others,  at  once  made 
an  advance  movement,  occupied  Candahar,  Cabul,  and  other 
important  places,   and   took   possession   of  the   country,  and 
placed  it  under  a  military  governor.     Forty-nine  of  the  mur- 
derers of  the  envoy  and  his  party  were  brought  to  trial,  and 
executed.     The  ameer  became  unpopular,  and  was  obliged  to 
abdicate,  and  was  succeeded  by  Abdurrahman.     In  several  en- 
gagements that  took  place  the  losses  of  the  British  were  severe. 
This  war  met  with  opposition  and  censure  in  Parliament,  but 
was  defended  by  the  ministry  as  necessary  for  the  safety  of 
British  interests.     But  a  re-action  took  place,  and  the  prime- 
minister,  Mr.  Disraeli   (Diz-ra'-ei-e),  resigned,  and   was   suc- 
ceeded  by  Mr.   Gladstone,  by  whom   a   more   liberal   policy 
towards  Afghanistan  was  adopted,  and  the  principal  part  of  the 
army  withdrawn ;  and  the  country  was  left  with  better  prospects 
for  peace. 

34.  Difficulties  arose  in  the  British  South  African  Colonies, 
in  1878-79,  which  led  to  wariike  operations  of  a  decisive  char- 

Zuiaiand.  ^^*^^*  ^^^  ^"^"^'  ^  troublesome  and  wariike  tribe 
of  brown-colored  East  Africans,  under  their  chief, 
Cetywayo,  had  some  local  disputes  with  their  neighbors,  includ- 
ing the  Transvaal,  which  was  a  British  dependency.  Zululand 
was  invaded  by  British  troops,  who  suffered  signal  defeats  in 
several  engagements ;  one  detachment  being  almost  annihilated 


1881.] 


THE  HOUSE  OF  BRUNSWICK-. 


201 


at  Isandula;  but  at  Ulundi  they  were  successful.  Cetywayo 
was  soon  after  taken  prisoner,  and  his  country  placed  under 
British  protection. 

During  this  war  the  young  French  prince  imperial,  son  of 
the  late  emperor,  Napoleon  III.,  lost  his  life,  having  been  sur- 
prised by  the  natives  while  reconnoitring  with  a  small  escort. 

An  unwise  attempt  to  disarm  the  Basutos,  a  half-civilized 
agricultural  tribe,  led  to  some  difficulties  with  that  people, 
which  were  finally  compromised. 

35.  War  soon  followed  in  the  Transvaal.  This  country  had 
for  many  years  been  a  free  state,  but  in  1877  was  annexed  to 
the  British  possessions.  In  1879-80  the  Boers  of  TheTrans- 
the  Transvaal  rebelled,  set  up  a  provisional  govern-  vaai. 
ment  at  Heidelberg,  and  demanded  a  repeal  of  the  act  of 
annexation.  Hostilities  ensued,  the  Boers  proving  themselves 
desperate  fighters,  signally  defeating  the  British  at  Middleburg 
and  in  several  other  engagements.  Negotiations  followed,  and 
in  1 88 1  tliey  again  became  a  free  state,  their  foreign  relations 
only  being  under  British  protection. 


CAPKTOWJS 
Cape  of  Good  Ho 


MAP 

OF 

SOUTHERN 

AFRICA 


36.  A  crisis  in  Egypt  brought  England  into  hostile  relations 
with  that  country  in  1882.     The  Khedive  of  Egypt,  who  is  the 


202 


fflSTORY  OF  ENGLAND. 


[18S2. 


1882.] 


THE  HOUSE  OF  BRUNSWICK. 


203 


I 


viceroy  of  the  Sultan  of  Turkey,  declined  to  approve  of  cer- 
.  tain  administrative  acts  of  Arabi  Bey,  his  minister  of  war,  espe- 
Egyptian        cially  the  sentence  of  a  court-martial  ordering  the 
affairs.  degradation  and  exile  of  a  number  of  army  officers 

who  had  been  accused  of  disloyalty  to  the  war  minister.  The 
ministry,  under  the  leadership  of  Arabi  Bey,  endeavored  to 
induce  the  Chamber  of  Notables  to  depose  the  khedive.  But 
the  attempt  failed.  Meantime  the  consuls-general  of  Eng- 
land and  France  telegraphed  their  governments  for  military 
assistance,  to  protect  their  countries'  interests  in  Egypt ;  and 
demanded  that  the  Egyptian  ministry  should  resign,  and  that 
Arabi  Bey  should  leave  the  country.  The  resignations  took 
place,  although  Arabi  Bey,  at  the  demand  of  the  military 
authorities  at  Alexandria,  was  soon  afterwards  re-instated  as 
minister  of  war.  But  he  immediately  assumed  a  rebellious  atti- 
tude towards  the  khedive ;  and  a  riot  occurred  at  Alexandria, 
during  which  a  wanton  massacre  of  Europeans  took  place. 

Meantime  efforts  were  making,  under  the  direction  of  Arabi 
Bey,  as  was  supposed,  to  strengthen  the  fortifications  which 
command  the  Bay  of  Alexandria,  the  seaport  and  commercial 
capital  of  Egypt.  Admiral  Seymour  of  the  English  fleet 
demanded  that  this  work  should  cease ;  and,  as  the  demand 
was  not  complied  with,  he  began  a  fierce  bombardment  (July 
11),  which  soon  reduced  the  forts  and  the  foreign  quarter  of 
the  town  to  a  mass  of  ruins.  England  claimed  the  right  to 
thus  intervene  in  the  affairs  of  Egypt,  on  the  ground  that  Egyp^ 
tian  securities,  whose  value  depended  upon  the  permanency 
of  the  government,  were  held  largely  by  English  people  \  and 
that  the  English  Government  was  a  majority  owner  in  the 
Suez  Canal,  —  a  water-way  for  ships,  extending  from  Port  Said 
on  the  Mediterranean  Sea  (about  a  hundred  and  forty  miles 
east  of  Alexandria)  southward  nearly  one  hundred  miles  to 
Suez,  at  the  head  of  the  Red  Sea,  —  the  use  of  which  is  of  great 
importance  in  communicating  with  her  possessions  in  India. 

The  Great  Powers  advised  Turkey  to  send  troops  to  Egypt ; 
and  England  demanded  that  the  sultan  should  proclaim  Arabi 


Bey  a  rebel.    The  British  Government  immediately  despatched 
a  large  force  to  the  seat  of  war,  hostilities  still  continuing. 

37.  The  disturbed  state  of  Ireland  in  1880-81  led  to  the 
passage  by  Parliament  of  the  Irish  Land  Bill,  by  which  a  court 
is  established  to  decide  upon  rents  when  appealed  irfsh  Land 
to  by  landlord  or  tenant ;  outgoing  tenants  are  Bin. 
allowed  compensation  for  improvements  made  by  them ;  and 
tenants  are  allowed  to  occupy  land  fifteen  years  without  in- 
crease of  rent.  But  this  bill  did  not  receive  the  general 
approval  of  the  Irish  people,  and  failed  to  produce  the  imme- 
diate good  results  anticipated  by  its  friends,  lliis  act  was 
followed  in  1882  by  the  Repression  Bill,  which  aims  to  restore 
good  order  in  Ireland. 

38.  Various  causes  combined  to  produce  considerable  dis- 
tress in  Great  Britain  in  1878-79.  The  manufacturing  interests 
were  much  depressed,  owing  to  over-production  Business 
and  the  competition  of  other  nations.  Numerous  depression. 
failures  occurred,  and  many  people  were  out  of  employment. 
There  was  also  a  deficiency  in  some  of  the  crops.  In  Octo- 
ber, 1878,  the  City  of  Glasgow  Bank  failed  disastrously,  on 
account  of  fraud  by  its  directors.  By  this  event  a  large  num- 
ber of  persons  lost  their  savings  of  many  years,  and  their  only 
means  of  subsistence. 

39.  The  population  of  the  United  Kingdom  has  increased 
during  the  reign  of  Victoria,  as  shown  by  the  last  census 
(1881),  more  than  thirty  per  cent.  During  the 
first  half  of  the  present  century  the  population 
nearly  doubled,  which  is  believed  to  be  equal  to  the  increase 
during  the  eleven  centuries  between  the  landing  of  Julius 
Caesar  and  that  of  William  the  Conqueror.  The  population 
of  London  in  1801  was  958,000.  In  eighty  years  it  has 
increased  to  3,814,000,  and  including  its  suburbs,  to  more 
than  4,700,000. 

40.  Many  eminent  statesmen   have   participated   in   public 


Population. 


304 


N  IS  TORY  CF  ENGLAND, 


[l'"82. 


r 


affairs  during  this  reign.  Brougham,  Palmerston,  Russell,  Peel, 
Eminent  Derby,  Gladstone,  Disraeli,  Cobden,  Bright,  and 
statesmen.  others,  havc  Contributed  largely  to  the  develop- 
ment and  welfare  of  their  country. 

41.  The  number  of  persons  distinguished  in  literature  and 
science  has  also  been  large.  Among  those  who  have  died  dur- 
Literary  i^g  the  reign  are  John  Wilson  ("Kit  North"), 
celebrities.  critic,  poct,  and  philosopher ;  Thackeray,  novelist 
and  critic ;  Dickens,  novelist ;  Tom  Moore,  poet,  author  of 
"  I^lla  Rookh,"  and  "  Irish  Melodies  ;  "  Macaulay,  critic  and 
historian  ;  Hood,  poet  and  humorist,  author  of  the  "  Bridge  of 
Sighs,"  and  "Song  of  the  Shirt ; "  Carlyle,  essayist,  historian,  and 
philosopher ;  Wordsworth  and  Southey,  poets  ;  Arnold,  teacher 
and  historian ;  Lingard,  historian ;  Hugh  Miller,  geologist ; 
Darwin,  naturalist ;  and  Dean  Stanley,  preacher  and  historian. 

42.  During  the  last  half-century  the  fruits  of  a  ripening 
civilization  have  rapidly  accumulated  in  almost  every  phase  of 
General  English  life.  In  improved  agriculture  and  manu- 
progressof  factures  in  general,  in  architecture  as  seen  in  the 
the  nation.  homes  of  all  classcs,  as  well  as  in  public  buildings 
and  bridges,  in  hospitals  and  asylums  for  the  unfortunate  and 
the  poor,  in  modes  of  travel,  in  the  use  of  the  telegraph  and 
the  printing-press,  and  in  literary  institutions  and  the  varied 
agencies  for  the  diffusion  of  knowledge,  the  evidences  of  a 
most  wonderful  progress  are  everywhere  seen;  while  in  the 
special  manufacturing  of  cotton,  woollen,  and  metallic  goods,  in 
the  mining  of  coal,  iron,  copper,  and  tin,  and  in  commerce  and 
naval  power.  Great  Britain  stands  in  the  front  rank  of  nations. 

43.  More  than  a  thousand  years  have  elapsed  since  Egbert 
united  the  litde  kingdoms  of  the  Heptarchy,  and  nowhere 
im  ortance  ^^"  ^^^  progress  of  civilization  be  more  profitably 
of  English  Studied  than  in  tracing  the  events  of  English  history 
history.  ^^^^  ^^^^  period  to  the  present.  We  here  see  the 
gradual  rise  of  a  people  from  a  low  state  of  barbarism  to  the 
highest  rank  in  national  power,  in  the  arts  both  of  peace  and 


1882.] 


THE  HOUSE   OF  BRUNSWICK, 


205 


war,  in  commercial  wealth,  and  intellectual  and  moral  great- 
ness. In  England  liberty  has  maintained  frequent  and  bloody 
conflicts  with  tyranny.  No  nation  can  boast  of  more  ardent 
patriots,  of  firmer  and  more  enlightened  friends  to  the  rights 
and  liberties  of  mankind,  or  men  of  higher  excellence,  or  of 
greater  intellectual  endowments,  than  are  presented  to  us  in 
the  eventful  pages  of  English  history. 

44.  To  the  citizens  of  the  United  States  the  history  of  Eng- 
land is  next  in  importance  to  that  of  their  own  country ;  for 
it  is  to  a  majority  of  them  the  history  of  their  own  its  lessons  to 
ancestors,  as  it  is  also  of  the  country  from  which  Americans, 
have  been  derived  in  a  great  measure  their  language*  and  litera- 
ture and  their  civil  and  religious  institutions. 

45.  The  Great  Britain  of  to-day  exhibits  many  of  the  best 
characteristics  of  conservatism  and  of  healthy  progress.     The 
extent   of  her  political   power,  and   her  judicious   p.^^inence 
policy  at  home  and  abroad,  equally  challenge  ad-  of  Great 
miration;  and  whoever  contemplates  the  vastness 

of  her  empire,  including  her  numerous  colonial  possessions, 
will  recognize  truth  as  well  as  poetry  in  the  assertion  that  "  on 
the  British  Empire  the  sun  never  sets." 


PARLIAMENT   HOUSE. 


I    i 


THE  BRITISH   GOVERNMENT. 


The  governmenl  of  Great  Britain  is  of  that  form  usually  known 
as  a  limited  monarchy.  The  sovereign  is  hereditary;  and,  when 
there  is  no  direct  male  heir,  a  female  may  succeed  to  the  throne, 
and  she  takes  the  title  of  queen -regnant.  The  wife  of  a  king  is 
called  queen-consort;  the  widow  of  a  king,  Tjueen-dowager ;  and 
the  mother  of  a  sovereign  upon  the  throne,  queen-mother 

The  power  of  the  sovereign  is  limited  by  constitutional  restrio 
tions.  While  the  crown  can  declare  war,  the  action  of  Parliament 
is  necessary  to  raise  money  and  men  to  carry  it  on.  But  the  sov- 
ereign has  full  power  to  assemble  or  to  dismiss  Parliament,  coin 
money  (though  not  to  fix  or  change  its  value),  to  receive  and  send 
ambassadors,  to  grant  pardons,  to  confer  titles  of  nobility,  to  ap- 
point judges  and  magistrates,  to  issue  and  cancel  commissions  in 
the  army  and  navy,  to  sign  or  veto  acts  passed  by  Parliament, 
and  to  nominate  bishops,  &c. 

The  power  of  the  sovereign  is  not  exercised  personally,  but 
through  a  ministry  composed  of  leading  officials,  the  most  impor- 
Unt  of  whom  are  the  following:  The  first  Lord  of  the  Treasury, 
.called  also  Premier  or  Prime-Minister;  Chancellor  of  the  Exche- 
quer; Lord  Chancellor,  President  of  the  Council;  Lord  Privy- 
Seal;  Home  Secretary;  Foreign  Secretary;  Secretary  for  the 
Colonies;  Secretary  of  War;  Secretary  for  India,  First  Lord  of 
the  Admiralty ;  President  of  the  Board  of  Trade ;  and  President 
of  the  Board  of  Works. 

The  ministry  is  responsible  for  the  acts  of  the  government;  and 

hence  the  saying,  that  the  king  can  do  no  wrong.     The  members 

of  the  ministry  usually  tender  their  resignations  when  any  of  their 

important  measures  fail  to  receive  the  support  of  the  House  of 

206 


THE  BRITISH  GOVERNMENT 


207 


Commons.  When  a  new  ministry  is  to  be  formed,  the  sovereign 
appoints  the  premier,  and  he  names  his  associates.  Although  the 
ministry  has  long  been  regarded  as  an  important  branch  of  the  gov- 
ernment in  the  administration  of  public  affairs,  it  exists  as  the 
result  of  custom  only,  never  having  been  created,  nor  recognized 
by  law ;  and  no  official  record  of  its  proceedings  is  kept. 

The  legislative  department  of  the  government  is  called  Parlia- 
ment, and  is  composed  of  two  houses,  —  Lords  and  Commons. 

The  House  of  Lords,  or  Peers,  at  present  consists  of  nearly  five 
hundred  members,  and  is  composed  of  English  hereditary  and 
titled  peers,  English  archbishops  and  bishops,  and  Scotch  and 
Irish  peers  elected  by  their  own  order.  Peers,  or  lords,  are  often 
created  by  the  sovereign  for  distinguished  services,  or  merit. 

The  House  of  Commons  is  elective,  its  members  representing 
counties,  cities,  boroughs,  and  some  of  the  universities.  The 
present  number  of  members  is  about  six  hundred  and  fifty. 

All  bills  for  raising  money,  or  which  directly  affect  the  people, 
must  originate  in  the  House  of  Commons. 

No  Parliament  can  exist  more  than  seven  years ;  and,  whenever 
its  dissolution  takes  place,  a  new  one  must  be  called  within  three 
years. 

Many  of  the  colonies  and  other  dependencies  of  the  empire 
have  parliaments  of  their  own  for  the  management  of  their  local 
affairs. 


I 


i 


THE   BRITISH   POSSESSIONS. 


The  Empire  of  Great  Britain  is  composed  of  a  variety  of  states 
and  dependencies  in  various  parts  of  tlie  world,  as  follows:  — 

IN  EUROPE, 

The  United  Kingdom  of  Great  Britain  and  Ireland,  with  the 
adjacent  islands,  including  the  Shetlands,  Hebrides,  Orkneys,  Scil- 
lies,  Man,  and  the  Isle  of  Wight. 

The  Channel  Islands,  near  the  coast  of  France,  comprising  Jer- 
sey, Guernsey,  &c.,  having  been  a  part  of  the  dominions  of  William 
the  Conqueror. 

HeUgoland,  a  small  island  in  the  German  Ocean,  off  the  mouth 
of  the  Elbe  River.     Obtained  from  the  Danes  in  1807. 

The  town  and  fortress  of  Gibraltar,  on  the  south  extremity  of 
Spain.    Captured  in  1 704. 

Malta,  an  island  naval  station  south  of  Sicily,  with  Gozo,  a  small 
island  adjacent  (taken  from  the  French  in  1800),  and  Cyprus. 

IN  ASIA. 

British  India,  including  the  peninsula  of  Hindostan,  and  several 
states  east  of  the  Bay  of  Bengal. 

The  Island  of  Ceylon,  south  of  Hindostan,  taken  from  the  Dutch 
in  1795;  Malacca,  on  the  Malayan  peninsula;  and  the  adjacent 
Islands  of  Singapore  and  Penang  or  Prince  of  Wales  Island; 
Sarawak  a  small  state  on  the  north  side  of  the  Island  of  Borneo; 
and  Iiabuan.  a  small  island  north  of  Borneo;  Hong  Kong,  an 
island  off  Canton  in  China,  obtained  from  the  Chinese  in  1843; 
and  Aden,  a  commercial  and  naval  station  on  the  Gulf  of  Aden, 
in  the  south-western  part  ot  Arabia,  obtained  from  Turkey  in  183& 


Tff£  BRITISH  POSSESSIONS. 


IN  AFRICA. 


209 


Cape  Colony,  obtained  from  the  Dutch  in  1806;  Natal;  Trans- 
vaal; Sierra  Iieone;  Gambia;  and  the  Gold-Coast  settlements. 

Also  the  following  islands  adjacent  to  Africa,  —  Mauritius,  or 
Isle  of  France,  east  of  Madagascar;  the  Seychelles  and  Amirante 
Islands,  north  of  Mauritius;  St.  Helena  (obtained  from  the  Dutch 
in  1654)  and  Ascension  Islands,  in  the  Atlantic  Ocean,  south  lati- 
tude, west  of  Lower  Guinea;  Lagos  and  several  other  small  islands 
and  settlements  along  the  coast  of  Upper  Guinea. 

IN  AUSTRALIA,  &c. 

Victoria,  New  South  Wales,  Queensland,  North  Australia, 
"West  Australia,  Alexandra  Land  and  South  Australia,  and 
Tasmania  and  New-Zeal£uid  Islands. 

IN  NORTH  AMERICA. 

The  Dominion  of  Canada,  composed  of  the  following  prov- 
inces,—  Ontario,  Quebec,  New  Brunswick,  Nova  Scotia,  Prince 
Edward  Island,  Manitoba,  British  Columbia,  including  Vancouver 
Island  and  the  North-west  Territories. 

The  Island  of  Newfoundland,  and  the  Bermuda  Islands  east 
ol  South  Carolina. 

IN  THE    WEST  INDIES. 

Jamaica,  Trinidad,  Barbadoes,  Grenada,  Antigua,  St  Lucia, 
Tobago,  St  Vincent,  St  Christopher,  Dominica,  Montserrat, 
Nevis,  Barbuda,  Anguilla,  Turk's  Island,  the  Virgin  Islands,  the 
Bahamas,  and  some  other  small  islands. 

IN  SOUTH  AND   CENTRAL  AMERICA. 

British  Guiana,  Balize  or  British  Honduras,  in  Yucatan,  and 
the  Falkland  Islands. 

The  Norfolk,  Chatham,  and  Fiji  Islands,  and  some  others  in 
the  Pacific  Ocean,  belong  to  Great  Britain. 

The  combined  area  of  the  British  Empire  is  estimated  at  more 
than  eight  and  a  half  million  square  miles,  and  its  population  at 
Uvo  hundred  and  fifty  million. 


:  J  '■■ 


SYNOPSIS  FOR  REVIEW. 

PART  III.    CONTINUED.    CHAPTERS  V.-VI. 

Pages  162-206. 

v.  — The  House  of  Brunswick. 

George  I.  His  character  and  habits.  Walpole.  Parties. 
The  Pretender. 

The  South-sea  Bubble.  The  Septennial  Act.  Literary  celeb- 
rities. 

George  IL    Walpole.    The  war  of  the  Austrian  succession. 

Its  battles. 

The  Pretender.     His  movements.    Battles.    Culloden. 

The  Seven-Years*  War.  Its  incidents.  Washington.  The 
East-India  Company.    Lord  Clive. 

Progress.    The  national  debt 

George  II.'s  character.    Distinguished  composer. 

George  in.  State  o£  the  country.  William  Pitt  Oppres- 
sion of  the  American  Colonies.    The  American  Revolution. 

Warren  Hastings.     His  career  and  trial. 

Union  of  England  and  Ireland. 

General  European  war.  William  Pitt,  the  younger.  Battle 
of  the  Nile.  Trafalgar.  Sir  John  Moore.  Talavera.  Sala- 
manca.   Vittoria.    Waterloo;  its  effects. 

War  with  the  United  States. 

Character  of  George  III.*s  reign-  Eminent  statesmen,  histo- 
rians, and  literary  persons.  Junius.  Art  and  the  drama. 
Prominent  dissenters.    Military  and  naval  heroes. 

Progress:  condition  of  the  people;  cost  of  living;  taxes. 
Criminal  laws  and  their  execution ;  prisons;  John  Howard. 
The  poor.  Trade  and  commerce.  Manufactures.  Agricul- 
ture. Religion.  Laws  against  Catholics.  Literature  and 
authors.  Articles  of  comfort.  Fine  arts.  Music  State 
of  society.  Education  and  morals.  Notable  events.  Popu- 
lation. 

George  IV.  His  character.  Queen  Caroline.  Greek  affairs. 
Relief  of  Catholics. 


SVATOPS/S  FOR  REVIEW.    - 


211 


William  IV.  Reform ;  what  attempted  and  what  secured  in 
Parliament.  Slavery.  Poor-law  reform.  Municipal  gov- 
ernment. Criminal  laws.  The  East-India  Company.  Wil- 
liam IV.'s  character. 


VI.  — Victoria. 


Auspicious  beginning.  The  queen's  marriage.  Union  with 
Hanover  dissolved. 

Sources  of  Discontent  Chartism.  Corn-laws.  Chartism 
revived.     Irish  separation  attempted. 

Temperance  reform.  Scottish  Free  Church.  Famine  in  Ire- 
land. The  World's  Fair.  Death  of  Prince  Albert  Cana- 
dian rebellion.     Afghan  war.     Conquests  in  India.  _ 

The  Sepoy  rebellion :  Delhi ;  Cawnpore  and  Lucknow  ;  memo- 
rable sieges.  Havelock.  Nana-Sahib.  The  East-India 
Company. 

War  with  China.     Free  ports.     Canton.     Pekin. 

The  balance  of  power.  Rebellion  in  Egypt  Mehemet-Ali. 
Settlement  of  the  troubles.  Crimean  war.  Its  causes;  inci- 
dents ;  battles.     Florence  Nightingale. 

Australia. 

Public  Measures  of  Victoria's  Reign.  Penny  postage. 
Relief  of  Jewish  disabilities.  Suffrage.  Irish  Land  Bill. 
Disestablishment  of  the  Irish  Church.  Education  Bill. 
Alabama  claims.  Empress  of  India.  Fish  award.  Cy- 
prus. Afghan  war.  Zululand.  The  Transvaal.  Irish 
Land  Bill.     Egyptian  affairs,  and  English  intervention. 

Business  depression.     Population. 

Eminent  statesmen  and  literary  celebrities.  General  progress 
of  the  nation. 

Importance  of  English  history.     Its  lessons  to  Americans. 

Prominence  of  Great  Britain. 

The  British  Government    The  British  Possessions. 


aio 


CHRONOLOGICAL  TABLE 


OF  ENGLISH   AND    LEADING    CONTEMPORANEOUS    SOVEREIGNS  AND 

IMPORTANT  EVENTS. 


House  of  Brunswick.    1714  to  the  present  time. 


H 


W 


1700.     14.       George  I. — Louis  XV.,  France,  15-74.    Charles 

VI.,  Germany,  father  of  Maria  There- 
sa. Popes  Clement  XI.  and  Ben- 
edict XnX  First  post-otilice  in 
America  at  New  York,  la  New  Or- 
leans founded,  17.  Great  earthquake 
at  Palermo,  26. 

27>     George  II.— Louis  XV.,  France.     Pope   Bene- 
dict XrV.    Frederick  the  Great, 

Prussia.  Baltimore  founded,  29.  Bal- 
loons invented.  Vermont  and  Georgia 
settled.  Washington  born,  32.  New 
Style  introduced  in  England,  52.  Earth- 
quake at  Lisbon,  55.  Braddock's  de- 
feat; capture  of  Louisburg  and  Que- 
bec. Hogarth,  Joshua  Reynolds,  Ben- 
jamin West,  Wesley,  Hume,  Newton. 

»  60.    George  III.  — Louis  XV.  and  XVI..  Napoleon,  of 

France.  Popes  Clement  XIV., 
Pius  VL  and  VII.  Frederick  the 
Great  Frederick  William  IIL, 
Prussia,  S6.  Alexander  I..  Russia. 
Wellington.  Brown  University  found- 
ed, 64.  American  Revolution.  Sand- 
wich Islands  discovered,  78.  First 
,  census    in    the    United    States,    90. 

French  Revolution.   First  locomotive, 
21a 


ENGLISH  SOVEREIGNS. 


213 


A.D. 

x8oo. 


4.  Fulton's  steamboat,  7.  War  be- 
tween England  and  the  United  States. 
General  war  in  Europe.  Waterloo. 
Napoleon  at  St.  Helena.  Johnson, 
Goldsmith,  Burns. 

20.    George  IV.— Louis  XVIII.  and  Charles  X.,  France. 

Pope  Leo  XIL  Missouri  Compro- 
mise in  the  United  States.  War  be- 
tween Greece  and  Turkey. 

30.  William  IV.  — Louis  PhiUppe,  France.  Pope  Greg- 

ory  XVI.  Revolution  in  France. 
Goethe  and  Lafayette  died.  Slavery 
abolished  in  the  British  Colonies,  34. 

37.         Victoria.— Louis  Philippe,  Louis  Napoleon, 

France.  Popes  Gregory  XVL, 
Pius  IX.,  46;  and  Leo  XIII.,  78. 
Guizot.  Nicholas,  25;  Alexander 
n.,  Russia,  55.  "William,  Germany, 
71.  Electric  telegraph  invented,  44. 
Thomas  Arnold.  War  between  Mexi- 
co and  the  United  States,  46-48. 
French  Republic,  48  ;  the  Empire,  52. 
Revolutions  in  Austria,  Prussia,  and 
Hungary,  48,  &c.  First  Atlantic  cable 
laid,  58 ;  second  cable  successful,  66. 
War  between  France,  Sardinia,  and 
Austria,  59;  between  Prussia,  Italy, 
and  Austria,  66.  Cavour.  Emanci- 
pation of  serfs  in  Russia,  61.  Civil 
war  in  the  United  Slates,  61-65. 
Proclamation  of  Emancipation,  63. 
War  between  Germany  and  France,  70. 
France  a  Republic,  71.  Bismarck. 
Telephone  invented,  76.  War  between 
Russia  and  Turkey,  77.  Humboldt, 
Agassiz,  Thiers.  * 


^!fe 


GENEALOGY  OF  THE   ENGLISH 

SOVEREIGNS. 


[nd    ^ 


sa.is  of  Ethelwolf. 


SAXON  LINE, 

Egbert,  son  of  Alchmund,  Prince  of  Wessex. 

Ethelwolf,  son  of  Egbert. 

Ethelbald. 

Ethelbert, 

Ethelred  X, 

Alfred, 

Edward  the  Elder,  son  of  Alfred. 

Athelstan,  \ 

Edmund  1,  >  sons  of  Edward  the  Elder. 
Edred,         ) 

EdwTTi ) 

Edear  \  ^°"^  °^  Edmund  I. 

Edward,        J  ,  „ , 

Ethelred  n,  r°"^  ^^  E^g"- 

Edmund  IX,  Ironside,  son  of  Ethelred  11. 

Canute  (Danish),  son  of  Sweyn,  who  was  declared  King  of  England,  but 

was  never  crowned. 
Harold  1.  (Danish),  son  of  Canute. 
Canute  n.,  or  Hardicanute  (Danish),  son  of  Canute. 
Edward  the  Confessor  (Saxon),  son  of  Ethelred  II.  by  his  second 

wife,  Emma  of  Normandy. 
Harold  H.  (Saxon),  son  of  Godwine,  Earl  of  Wesscx,  a  Saxon  nobleman, 

but  not  of  royal  blood. 

NORMAN  FAMIL  K 

William  X,  the  Conqueror,  son  of  Robert,  Duke  of  Normandy;  bom 
1027 }  died  1087 ;  married  Matilda  of  Flanders,  a  descendant  of  Al- 
fred  the  Great,  1054  (William's  great-aunt,  Emma  of  Normandy, 
was  the  mother  of  Edward  the  Confessor);  had  four  sons  and  five 
daughters. 
ai4 


GENEALOGY  OF  THE  ENGLISH  SOVEREIGNS,    215 

William  IX,  Rufus,  third  son  of  William  I.;  born  1060;  killed  iioo; 

not  married. 
Henry  X,  youngest  son  of  William  I.;  born  1068;  died  1135;  married 

Maud  of  Scotland  11 00,  and  Adelais  of  Lou  vain  1121 ;  had  one  son 

and  one  daughter. 
Stephen  X,  grandson  of  William  I.  by  his  daughter  Adela ;  born  about 

1 105;  died  1 1 54;  married  Matilda  of  Boulogne  1134;  had  three  sons 

and  two  daughters. 


: 


PLANTAGENET  FAMILY. 

Henry  IX,  son  of  Geoffrey  Plantagenet,  Duke  of  Anjou,  and  grandson  of 

Henry  I.  by  his  daughter  Matilda;  born  1133;  died  1189;  married 

Eleanor  of  Guienne  1 1 50 ;  had  five  sons  and  three  daughters. 
Richard  I.,  son  of  Henry  II.;  born  1157;  died  1199;  married  Berenga- 

ria  of  Navarre  1191 ;  no  legitimate  children. 
Jshn,  son  of   Henry   II.;   bom   1165;   died   1216;   married  Isabel  of 

Gloucester  1189,  and  Isabel  of  Angouleme  1199;  had  two  sons  and 

three  daughters. 
Henry  HX,  eldest  son  of  John;  bom  1207;  died  1272;  married  Eleanor 

of  Provence  1236;  had  two  sons  and  two  daughters,  besides  five  chil- 
dren who  died  in  infancy. 
Edward  X,  eldest  son  of  Henry  III.;  born  1239;  died  1307;  married 

Eleanor  of  Castile  1254,  and  Margaret  of  France  1299;  had  six  sons 

and  ten  daughters. 
Edward  IX,  son  of  Edward  I.;  bom  1284;  murdered  1327;  married 

Isabella  of  France  1308;  had  two  sons  and  two  daughters. 
Edward  HX,  son  of  Edward  II.;  born  131 2;  died  1377;  married  Phil- 

ippa  of  Hainault  1328 ;  had  seven  sons  and  five  daughters. 
Richard  XL,  son  of  the  Black  Prince,  and  grandson  of  Edward  III.; 

bom  1366;  died  about  1400;  married  Anne  of  Bohemia  1382,  and 

Isabella  of  France  1396;  no  children. 


BRANCH  OF  LANCASTER. 

Henry  IV.,  son  of  John  of  Gaunt,  Duke  of  Lancaster,  fourth  son  of 
Edward  III. ;  born  1366;  died  1413;  married  Mary  de  Bohun  1397, 
and  Joan  of  Navarre  1403;  had  four  sons  and  two  daughters. 

Henry  V.,  son  of  Henry  IV. ;  born  1388  \  died  1422 ;  married  Catherine, 
daughter  of  Charles  VI.  of  France,  1420 ;  had  one  son. 

Henry  VI.,  son  of  Henry  V. ;  bora  142 1 ;  died  147 1 ;  married  Margaret 
of  Anjou  1445 ;  had  one  soil 


',■'  < 


2l6 


HISTORY  OF  EKGLAND, 


GENEALOGY  OF  THE  ENGLISH  SOVEREIGNS.      21 7 


li' 


BRANCH  OF  YORK, 

Edward  IV,  son  of  Richard,  Duke  of  York ;  born  1442 ;  died  1483 ;  mar. 
ried  Elizabeth  Woodville  Grey  1463,  had  three  sons  and  seven  daugh- 
ters. Edward  IV.  was  the  grandson  of  Richard,  Earl  of  Cambridge, 
who  married  Anne  Mortimer,  the  grcat-grand-daughter  of  Lionel,  Duke 
of  Clarence,  the  third  son  of  Edward  III.  Richard,  Earl  of  Cam- 
bridge,  was  son  of  Edmund,  Duke  of  York,  fifth  son  of  Edward  III. 

Edward  V.,  son  of  Edward  IV.;  born  1470;  murdered  about  1483;  not 
married. 

Richard  HL,  son  of  Richard,  Duke  of  York,  and  brother  of  Edward  IV. ; 
born  1450;  killed  1485;  married  Anne  of  Warwick  1472;  had  one 
son. 

TUDOR  FAMILY, 

Henry  Vn,  son  of  Edmund  Tudor,  Earl  of  Richmond,  and  a  descend- 
ant  of  Edward  III. by  his  fourth  son,  John  of  Gaunt;  born  1456;  died 
1509;  married  Elizabeth  of  York,  daughter  of  Edward  IV.,  i486; 
had  three  sons  and  four  daughters. 

Henry  VIII,  son  of  Henry  VII.;  born  1491 ;  died  1547;  married  Cath- 
erine of  Aragon  1509,  Anne  Boleyn  1532,  Jane  Seymour  1536,  Anne 
of  Clcves  1540,  Catherine  Howard  1540,  and  Catherine  Parr  1543; 
had  one  son  and  two  daughters. 

Edward  VI.  son  of  Henry  VIII. ;  bom  1537;  died  1558;  not  married. 

Mary,  daughter  of  Henry  VIII.  by  Catherine  of  Aragon,  and  grand- 

daughter  of  Ferdinand  and  Isabella  of  Spain;  born  1516;  died  1558; 

.  married  Prince  Philip  (afterwards  Philip  II.)  of  Spain;  no  children.  * 

Elixabetli,  daughter  of  Henry  VIII.  by  Anne  Boleyn;  born  1533;  died 
1603 ;  not  married. 


HOUSE  OF  STUART, 

James  I,  son  of  Mary,  Queen  of  Scots,  and  Henry  Stuart  (Lord  Darnley), 
her  cousin.  James  L  was  great-grandson  of  Henry  VII.  on  the 
side  of  both  father  and  mother;  born  1566;  died  1625;  married 
Anne  of  Denmark  1590;  two  sons  and  one  daughter,  besides  several 
children  who  died  in  infancy. 

CHiarlea  I,  son  of  James  L;  born  1600;  beheaded  1649;  married  Hen- 
rietta Maria  of  France  1625;  three  sons  and  two  daughters. 

OHver  Cromwell,  Protector;  born  1599;  died  1658;  married  Elizabeth 
Bouchier;  had  five  sons  and  four  daughters. 


Charles  H,  son  of  Charles  L;  born  1630;  died  1685;  married  Catherine 

'  '^raganza;  no  legitimate  children. 
James  II,  son  of  Charles  I.;  born  1633;  died  1701 ;  married  Anne  Hyde 

1660,  Mary  of  Modena  1673;  ^"^  ^o"  ^.nd  two  daughters. 
'William  III  and  Mary  H    William,  Prince  of  Orange,  and  grandson 

of  Charles  I.;  born  1650;  died  1702;  married  Mary  1677. 
Mary,  daughter  of  James  IL;  born  1662;  died  1694;  married  as  abov& 

They  had  no  children. 
Anne,  daughter  of  James  II.;  born  1665;  died  17 14;  married  George, 

Prince  of  Denmark,  16S3;  nineteen  sons  and  daughters.      All  died 

young. 

HOUSE  OF  BRUNSWICK. 

George  I,  son  of  the  Elector  of  Hanover,  and  great-grandson  of  James 

L;  born  1660;  died  1727;  married  Sophia  Dorothea  of  Zell ;  had  one 

son  and  one  daughter. 
George  II,  son  of  George  L;  born  16S3,  died  I760i  married  Caroline 

of  Anspach  1705;  three  sons  and  five  daughters. 
George  IH,  son  of  Frederick,  Prince  of  Wales,  and  grandson  of  George 

II.;  born  173S;  died  1820;  married  Charlotte  of  Mechlenburg-Stre- 

litz  1761 ;  had  nine  sons  and  six  daughters. 
George  IV.,  son  of  George  III.;  born  1762;  died  1830;  married  Caro- 
line of  Brunswick  1795;  ^^^  daughter. 
William  IV.,  son  of  George  HI.;  born  1765;  died  1837;  married  Ade 

laide  of  Saxe-Meiningen ;  two  daughters,  who  died  young. 
Victoria,  daughter  of  Edward,  Duke  of  Kent,  and  grand-daughter  of 

George  III.;  her  mother  was  Maria  Louisa  Victoria  of  Saxe-Coburg; 

born  18 19;  married  her  cousin  Albert  of  Saxe-Coburg-Gotha  1840; 

four  sons  and  five  daughters.    The  Prince-Consort  died  in  1861. 

The  descent  of  Victoria  from  William  the  Conqueror  will  be  readily 
understood  from  the  following :  — 

Victoria  is  the  daughter  of 

Edward  (the  Duke  of  Kent),  the  son  of 

George  HI.,  the  son  of 

Frederick  (Prince  of  Wales),  the  son  of 

George  1 1.,  the  son  of 

George  I.,  the  son  of 

Sophia  (Electress  of  Hanover),  the  daughter  of 

Elizabeth  (Queen  of  Bohemia),  the  daughter  of 

James  I.,  the  son  of 

Mary,  Queen  of  Scots,  the  daughter  of 


■if 


I 



2l8 


HISTORY  OF  ENGLAND, 


I  I 


James  V.  (of  Scotland),  the  son  of 

James  IV.  (of  Scotland)  and  Margaret  Tudor,  the  daughter  of 
Henry  VI I.  (and  Elizabeth  of  York),  the  son  of 
Margaret  Beaufort,  the  daughter  of 
John  Beaufort  (the  'Duke  of  Somerset),  the  son  of 
John  Beaufort  (the  Earl  of  Somerset),  the  son  of 
John  of  Gaunt  (the  Duke  of  Lancaster),  the  fourth  son  o£ 
Edward  III.,  the  son  of 
Edward  IL,  the  son  of 
Edward  I.,  the  son  of 
Henry  III.,  the  son  of 
John,  the  son  of 
Henry  II.,  the  son  of 
Matilda,  the  daughter  of 
Henry  I.,  the  fourth  son  of 
William  the  Conqueror. 
The  descent  can  also  be  traced  from  Henry  VII.  through  the  House  oi 

York. 

Through  the  York  Branch. 

Elizabeth  of  York  (queen  of  Henry  VII.)  was  the  daughter  of 

Edward  IV.,  son  of 

Richard  (Duke  of  York),  son  of 

Anne  Mortimer,  daughter  of 

Roger  Mortimer,  son  of 

Edmund  Mortimer  and  Philippa,  daughter  of 

Lionel  (Duke  of  Clarence),  third  son  of 

Edward  III 


THE  PRESENT  ROYAL  FAMILY  OF 

GREAT  BRITAIN. 

Her  Majesty  Alexandrina  Victoria,  Queen  of  the  United  King- 
dom of  Great  Britain  and  Ireland,  Empress  of  India,  Duchess 
of  Lancaster,  Defender  of  the  Faith,  &c.;  born  May  24,  18 19; 
crowned  June  28,  1838 ;  and  married,  Feb.  10,  1840,  Albert,  Prince 
of  Saxe-Coburg-Gotha  (who  died  December,  1861). 

Her  children:  — 

1.  Victoria  Adelaide  Maria  Louisa,  Princess  Royal ;  bom  Nov. 
21,  1840;  married,  Jan.  15,  1858,  Frederick  William,  Crown  Prince 
of  Prussia.     Seven  children. 

2.  Albert  Edward,  his  Royal  Highness  the  Prince  of  Wales ; 
born  Nov.  9,  1841 ;  married,  Marc4i  10,  1863,  Princess  Alexandra, 
daughter  of  the  King  of  Denmark.    Five  children. 

3.  Alice  Maud  Mary;  born  April  25,  1843;  married  Frederick 
William,  Prince  of  Hesse-Darmstadt,  July  i,  1862 ;  died  Dec.  14, 
1878.    Six  children. 

4.  Alfred  Ernest  Albert,  Duke  of  Edinburgh;  born  Aug.  6, 
1844;  married,  Jan.  23,  1874,  the  Grand  Duchess  Alexandrovna, 
daughter  of  the  Czar  of  R^issia.    Two  children. 

5.  Helena  Augusta  Victoria;  born  May  25, 1846;  married,  July 
5,  1866,  Frederick,  Prince  of  Sleswick-Holstein,  &c.  Four  chil- 
dren. 

6.  Louisa  Caroline  Alberta;  born  March  18,  1848;  married, 
March  21,  1871,  John  Douglass  Campbell,  Marquis  of  Lome,  and 
now  (1879)  Governor-General  of  the  Dominion  of  Canada. 

7.  Arthur  William  Patrick  Albert,  Duke  of  Connaught,  &c. ; 
bora  May  i,  1850;  married,  March  13,  1879,  Pnocess  Louisa 
Margaret  of  Prussia.     One  child. 

8.  Leopold  George  Duncan  Albert,  Duke  of  Albany ;  born  April 
7,  1853 ;  married,  April  27,  1882,  Princess  Helena  of  Waldeck  Pyrmont 

9.  Beatrice  Maria  Victoria  Feodore;  born  April  14,  1857. 

•  219 


220 


HISTORY  OF  ENGLAND. 


CHRONOLOGICAL    TABLE. 


22\ 


TABLE  OF  THE  HISTORY  OF  ENGLAND.  — No.  i. 
From  the  Accesiion  of  Egbert,  827,  to  the  Death  of  Richard  III.,  1485. 


A.D. 
800 


9/A 


900 


lath 


1000 


tiM 


1,-1 


1 100 

1200 

1300 

14M 

1400 

15M 


57 
60 

66 

72 


00 
25 

41 
48 

55 
59 

51 


15 
16 

36 
39 

41 

65 

66 
87 


00 

35 

54 
89 
99 


16 
72 


7 
"7 


77 


99 


13 

32 
61 
83 


Kings, 


Egbert 

Ethelwolf 

Ethelbald 

EtheJbert 

Elhelred  I. 

Alfred 


Edward  the  Elder     . 

Athelstan    , 

Edmund  1. . 

Edied. 

Edwy .        .        .        . 

Edgar 

Edward  tht  Martyr , 

Etheked  II. 


Sweyn,  Dane    . 
Edmund  W.Jrtmside, 

Canute,  tke  Great  . 
Haiold  I.,  Harefoot . 
Canute  11.  . 

Edward,  Confessor  . 
Harold  II.  . 

Waiiam,  Conqueror. 

William  IL 


Henry  I.     . 

Stephen  {of  Blots) 

Henry  11.   .        . 
Richard  I.  . 
John,  Lackland 


Henry  III. . 
Edward  I.  . 


Edward  II. 
Edward  III. 


Richard  II. 


Henry  IV. . 


Henry  V.  . 
HcDiy  VI . . 

Edward  IV. 
Edward  v.. 
Richard  III. 


Ys. 


II 
20 

3 

6 

5 
28 


25 

16 

7 
7 

4 
16 

3 
37 


\ 
I 

19 
4 
3 

24 
1 

21 
13 


35 
»9 

35 
10 

17 


56 
35 


20 
50 

32 

M 


9 
39 

23 


Saxon  Line. 
First  sole  monarch  of  Engbnd;  end  of  the 
Saxon  Heptarchy. 

iThe  Danes  begin  their  hostile  attacks,  and 
continue  for  more  than  two  centuries  to 
scourge  the  country. 
An  illustrious  king;  has  a  prosperous  reign. 


The  Danes  defeated. 
Defeats  the  Danes,  Welsh,  Scots,  &C. 
Murdered  by  the  robber  Leolf. 
Ascendency  of  Dtmstan. 

Dunstan  archbishop. 
Assassinated  by  order  of  Elfrida. 
Massacre  of  the  Danes  at  the  festival  St. 
Brice. 


Conquers  England,  and  is  proclaimed  king. 
Defeated  by  the  Danes,  and  murdered. 

Danish  Kings. 
Completes  the  conquest  of  England. 

The  power  of  the  Danes  terminates. 

Saxon  Line  restored. 

First  king  that  touched  iox^v^king's-evil. 

Defeated  and  slain  at  Hastings. 

Norman  Family. 

Conquers  England;  introduces  the  feudal 

system  and  Norman  language. 
Is  shot  while  hunting ;  A  rchhishop  A  nselm. 


Usurps  the  throne  of  his  brother  Robert. 
Usurps,  and  has  contests  with  Matilda. 

Family  of  Plantacenet. 
Conquers /r^&«^/  assassination  of  Becket. 
Engages  in  a  Crusade,  and  defeats  Saladin. 
Foreign  dominions  lost;  Magna  Charta. 


Montfort;  first  House  of  Commons. 
Subdues  Wales;  William  Wallace;  Rob- 
ert Bruce. 


Defeated  by  the  Scots  at  Bannockbum. 

A  splendid  reign;  chivalry  ax  its  zenith; 
victories  of  Cressy,  Poitiers;  the  Black 
Prince. 

Deposed  and  murdered;  Wickliffe;  Chau- 
cer. 

Branch  of  Lancaster. 

Gains  the  throne  instead  of  the  rightful  heir. 


Victory  of  Agincouri.     Oldcastle  burnt. 
Civil  wars  of  the  White  and  Red  Roses. 

Branch  of  York. 
Battlesof  Towton,Barnet,  and  Tenvksbury. 
Murdered  after  a  reign  of  seventy -four  days, 
Defeated  and  slain  at  Boswortk. 


TABLE   OF  THE   HISTORY   OF  ENGLAND.  — No.  2. 
From  Henry  VII.,  1485,  to  the  Death  of  George  II.,  1760. 


A.D. 


1500 


16/A 


1600 


17/A 


1700 


58 


25 

53 
60 

85 

89 


tZth 


Kings. 


85  {  Henry  VII. 


«4 


27 


9  I  Henry  Vin. 


47      Edward  VL 
53  I  Mary. 


Elizabeth 


James  I.     . 
Charles  I.  .        . 

Cromwell .        . 
Charles  II.  . 

James  II.    . 
William  III.  &  Mary 


Anne  . 


George  I.    . 


George  II. . 


24 


38 


6 

5 

44 


22 
24 

5 
25 

4 

13 


12 
13 

33 


House  of  Tudor. 
Marries  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Edward  IV., 
uniting  the  houses  of  York  and  Latuns- 
ter;  commerce  encouraged;  xXie.  feudal 
system  declines. 


A  cruel  tyrant;  victory  of  Flodden  by 
Surrey;  introduces  the  Rrformatioi,; 
two  queens  divorced,  two  beheaded; 
Wolsey  disgraced;  Bishop  Fisher,  Sir 
Thomas  More,  Cromwell,  and  Sur- 
rey beheaded. 

Promotes  the  Reformation,  aided  by 
Craumer. 

Restores  Catholic  religion;  marnes  Phil- 
ip //.  of  Spain;  Jane  Grey  beheaded; 
many  Protestants  burnt. 

Has  an  auspicious  reign ,  assisted  by  Bacon, 
Burleigh,  Walsingham,  &c. ;  agricul- 
ture, commerce,  and  literature  flourish; 
the  Church  of  England  established; 
Mary,  Queen  of  Scots,  beheaded;  the 
Spanish  Armada  destroyed. 


House  of  Stitart. 

L^nites  the  crowns  of  England  and  Scot- 
laud;  the  Gunpowder  Plot  defeated; 
the  Bible  translated:  the  Puritans 
settle  at  Plymouth,  Mass. 

Despotic;  attempts  to  raise  money  without 
consent  of  Parliament ;  c/V//  7var  rages ; 
Strajff^ord and  LaudhchcSiAii^;  Charles 
defeated  and  beheaded  (1649)  >  ^^  Corn- 
wealth  begins. 

Dissolves  the  Long  Parliament,  and  becomes 
Protector;  Navigation  Act;  Dutch  war. 

Profligate;  his  reign  injurious  to  liberty/ 
and  morality;  plague  and  fre  m 
London;  Clarendon  banished;  Russell 
and  Algernon  Sidney  executed. 

Attempts  to  establish  the  Catholic  religion, 
and  is  obliged  to  abdicate :  hence  the 
Revolution. 

Constitution  confirmed;  batdes  of  Boyne 
snALa  Hogue;  Vc3iC&  oi  Ryswick;  na- 
tional debt  begins. 


Marlborough  and  Eugene's  victories  of 
Blenheim, Ramiliies,  Malplaquet,  &c. ; 
literature  flourishes. 

House  of  Brunswick. 

Rebellion  in  favor  of  the  Pretender  sup- 
pressed; South-Sea  scheme;  Walpole 
minister. 

The  Pretender  overthrown  at  Culloden; 
war  with  France  carried  on  in  Europe, 
Asia,  and  America;  battle  of  Dettingen  : 
conquest  of  Canada. 


HISTORY  OF  ENGLAND, 


TABLE  OF  THE  HISTORY  OF  ENGLAND.  — No.  3. 
From  George  III.,  1760,  to  Victoria. 


A.D. 


Kings. 


Ys. 


60     George  III. 


1800    


60 


I 


19/A 


20  j  George  IV. 


30  ;  William  IV. 


37 


Victoria 


10 


House  of  Brunswick,  concluded. 
A  long  and  eventful  reign ;  hostilities  with 
and  loss  of  the  Amert'can  Colonies; 
long  war  with  France,  terminated  by  the 
battle  of  Waterloo  ;  possessions  in  India 
greatly  extended ;  commerce  and  the  arts 
flourish,  but  the  naf Zonal  debt  greatly 
increased;   Regency  1811. 


Proceedings  against  Queen  Caroline:  hTX- 
\\eoi  Navarino;  Corporation  and  Test 
Acts  repealed;  Catholic  emancipation. 

The  Reform  Bill  passes;  Irish  Church 
Reform:  colonial  slavery  abolished; 
East-India  charter  modified. 

Married  to  Prince  Albert;  Chartism;  Com 
Laws;  Scottish  Free  Church;  the  World's 
Fair;  Canadian  rebellion;  Afghan  war; 
Sepoy  rebellion;  war  with  China;  Egypt; 
in  the  Crimea;  penny  postage;  Jewish 
relief;  Education  Bill;  disestablish- 
ment of  the  Irish  Church;  Cyprus; 
Afghan  war;  Zulu  war. 


I 


Note.  —  The  figures  on  the  left  hand  of  the  kings  denote  the  commencement  of  their  reigns. 


^ 


\ 


I 
i 


.'1 
I* 


I 


CHRONOLOGICAL    TABLE, 


223 


CHRONOLOGICAL  TABLE  OF  ENGLISH  CELEBRITIES. 


A.D. 
1200 
1300 
1400 

1500 


xUh 


1600 


Statesmen 
AND  Com- 
manders.     Q 


Leicester 


Black  Prince 


l^th 


Wolsey  .  . 

Somerset  . 

Gardiner  . 

S.  Cabot  . 

Leicester  . 
Walsingham 

Drake    .  . 

Burleigh  . 


1700 


lith 


Essex  .  . 
Raleigh .  . 
Strafford     . 

Srm .  .  . 
ampden  . 
Blake  .  . 
Cromwell  . 
Monk  .  . 
Shaftesbury 
Russell  .  . 
Alg.  Sidney 
Temple  .    . 


x8oo 


%t^h 


Cavendish  . 
Godolphin  . 
Somers  .     . 
Marlborough 
Walpole 
Bolingbroke 
Vernon  .    . 
Wolfe     .    . 
Boscawen  . 
Lyttelton    . 
Chatham    . 
Cook      .     . 
Rodney .     . 
North     .     . 
Mansfield   . 
Burke     .     . 
Amherst     . 


Nelson  .    . 
Pitt    .    .    . 
Fox   .    .    . 
Grattan.    . 
Erskine  .    . 
Canning     . 
Eldon     .    . 
Grey.     .     . 
C.  Napier  . 
Wellington 
Cobden  . 
Palmerston 
Russell  .     . 
Derby    .    . 
Gladstone  . 
Beaconsfield 


•a 
u 


Poets. 


•a 


65 
76 


Warwick    .    .71 


30 
52 
55 
57 
88 
.  89 
.  96 


Robt.  of  Gloucester, 


Chaucer  . 


Gower  . 


Skelton  . 
Wyatt  .  . 
Earl  of  Surrey 
Heywood  . 
Gascoigne . 
Marlowe  . 
Peele     .     . 


.  98  I  Spenser 


.    I 

.  18 
.  41 

•  43 

•  43 

•  57 
.  58 

•  70 

•  83 
.83 
•83 

•99 


F.  Beaumont 


SHAKSPEARE,  16 


J.  Fletcher 
Herbert  . 
Ben  Jonson 
Massinger. 
Cowley .  . 
Ml  LI  ON. 
Roscommon 
Otway  .  . 
Waller^  . 
Butler <|'  « 


.    7  I  Drvden 
.  12    Parnell . 
.  16    Rowe    . 
.  22     Prior     . 
.  46    Congreve 
.  51    Gay ,    . 
.  57    Pope     . 
.  59    Thomson 
.  61     Collins  . 
.  63     Shenstone 
.  78    Churchill 
.  79  I  Young  . 
.  92    Akenside 
.  92  I  Gray 
.  93  I  Goldsmith 
.  97  I  Bums   . 
■  98  I  COWPER 


Beattie . 
H.  K.  White 
Shelley . 
Byron  . 
Crabbe  . 
W.  Scott 
Coleridge 

45  I  Southey 

52  '  Campbell 
Wordsworth 
Montgomery 
Leigh  Hunt 
Mrs.  Browning 
W.  S.  Landor 
Tennyson  .     . 

81    M.  Arnold      . 


5 

6 

6 

20 

23 
27 

38 


52 
65 
65 
78 
69 


Divines. 


Langton 


Wickliffe 


•  *9 

.  41 

•  47 

•  65 

•  77 

•  93 
97 


Tyndale  . 
Ridley  . 
Latimer  . 
Cranmer 
Card.  Pole 
Coverdale 
Knox.    . 


.  98     Hooker  . 


15 


25 

35 

37 

39 
67 

74 
84 

85 
87 


I 

17 
18 
21 
28 
32 
44 
48 
56 

63 
64 

65 
70 

71 
74 
96 


Andrewes 
Usher 
Walton    . 
Th   Fuller 
Taylor    . 
Barrow    . 
Leighton 
H.  More. 
Bunyan  . 
Cud  worth 
Baxter     . 
Tillotson . 


Howe .     . 
M.  Henry 
Burnet    . 
South .     . 
Clarke     . 
Watts .    . 
Doddridge 
Butler     . 
Berkeley . 
Lardner  . 
Whitefield 
Warburton 
Lowth     . 
Wesley    . 
Price  .     . 
Campbell 
Blair  .     . 


Q 
28 
84 


Miscel- 
laneous. 


73 


Roger  Bacon  .  92 


8  I  A  Kempis    .  71 


Mandeville      .  72 


Caxton  . 


92 


36    Thomas  More,  35 
55  I  Thomas  Elyot,  46 


55 
56 
58 
69 
72 


.  26 

.  56 
.  61 
.  61 

•  67 

•  77 
.  84 

.  87 
.  88 
.  88 
.  91 

•  94 


Leiand 
Cheke     .     , 
R.  Ascham 
Holingshed 
Buchanan 
P.  Sidney 


•  5 

•  14 

•  15 
.  16 
.  29 
.  48 

•  5» 


68 
70 

79 
87 
91 
91 
96 


Napier  . 
BACON 
Camden . 
Coke .  . 
Burton  . 
Selden  . 
Harvey  . 
Hale .  . 
Harrington 
Hobbes  . 
Sydenham 
Boyle     . 


52 

57 

68 
81 
82 
86 


•  17 
.  26 

.  28 

•  34 

•  39 

•  54 

•  57 
.  76 

•  77 

•  79 
.  89 

.  91 


LOCKE 
Addison 
Sir  C.  Wren 
NEWTON 
De  Foe  . 
Swift .  . 
Fielding 

52  i  Richardison 

53  Sterne    . 
Hume    . 
Garrick  . 
Blackstone 
Johnson 
Ad.  Smith 
Robertson 
Gibbon  . 
Wm.  Jones 


.  3  Priestley . 
.  6  i  Paley  .  . 
.  22  I  Horsley  . 
.  24  (  Porteus  . 
.  32  j  Watson  . 
.  32  I  Th.  Scott 
.  34  I  R.  Hall  . 

43  A.  Clarke 

44  Arnold  . 
50  J  Foster 
55  Robertson 
59  Whately . 
62  Alford  . 
64    Stanley    . 

Spurgeon 
Manning 


4  ;  Sheridan 

5  i  Playfair . 

6  I  Herschel 
8  j  Mitford  . 

16  !  Stewart . 
21  '  Davy 

31  ;  Mackintosh 

32  Wilberforce 


■  4 
19 

23 
27 

31 

45 

54 
61 

68 

76 

80 

84 
90 

93 
94 
94 


^  G%A.Aj*»AfVj 


6 

19 
22 
27 
28 

29 
32 

33 


42  ,  Doug.  Jerrold .  57 


44 
53 
63 

71 
81 


MacauTay  . 
Hallam  .  . 
Thackeray . 
De  Quinccy 
Dickens.  . 
Carlyle  .  . 
H.  Spencer 


59 
59 
64 

59 
70 

81 


224 


mSTORY  OF  ENGLAND. 


I; 


REMARKS  ON  THE  TABLES  OF  ENGLISH  HISTORY 
AND   DISTINGUISHED   PERSONS. 


I 


It 


Some  of  the  most  eminent  sovereigns  who  have  occupied  the  throne  of  England  are  the 
following,  — Alfred,  William  the  Conqueror,  Henry  II.,  Edward  I.,  Edward  III.,  Henry 
VII.,  Eliiabcth,  and  William  III. 

The  cause  of  English  freedom  has  been  most  effectually  promoted  during  some  of  the 
weakest  and  least  prosperous  reigns,  as  those  of  John,  Henry  III.,  Charles  I.,  and 
James  II. 

Some  of  the  most  important  political  changes  or  revolutions  that  have  taken  place  in 
England  since  the  Norman  Conquest  are  the  granting  of  the  Magna  Cha^-ta,  or  the 
Great  Charter,  in  the  time  of  King  John;  the  establishment  of  the  House  of  Commons, 
I  J  /  t '"  •'^'^  *''"*^  °*^  Henry  III  :  the  Reformation  in  religion,  in  the  reign  of  Henry  VIII.:  the 
'  union  of  the  crowns  of  England  and  Scotland,  at  the  commencement  of  the  reign  of 

James  I.;  the  civil  war  between  Charles  I.  and  the  English  Parliament,  which  issued  in 
the  defeat  and  execution  of  the  king,  and  the  establishment  of  the  Commonwealth  under 
Cromwell:  the  restoration  of  the  monarchy,  under  Charles  11. :  the  dethronement  or 
abdication  of  Jaraes  II  :  the  accession  of  William  and  Mary,  and  the  establishment  of  the 
principles  of  the  Constitution  (1688  :  the  legislative  union  between  England  and  Scotland, 
in  the  reign  of  Queen  Anne:  the  union  of  Ireland  with  Great  Britain,  in  the  reign  of 
George  III.  (1800):  and  the  Reform  of  Parliament,  in  the  reign  of  William  IV.  (1832.) 

Chaucer,  the  most  celebrated  of  the  early  English  poets,  flourished  in  the  latter  part 
©f  the  fourteenth  century,  in  the  reigns  of  Edward  HI.  and  Richard  II.:  but  English 
classical  literature  may  be  considered  as  beginning  in  the  latter  half  of  the  sixteenth 
century,  during  the  reign  of  Elizabeth,  with  Hooker,  a  learned  divine,  Spenser  and 
Skakspeare,  eminent  poets,  and  Bacon,  the  philosopher,  -who  also  lived  through  the 
reign  of  James  I.  The  reign  of  Queen  Anne  was  particularly  distinguished  for  men  of 
genius,  among  whom  were  Nexvton,  Addison,  Pope,  and  Swift. 

JVoisey  and  Gardiner,  who  are  placed  in  the  left-hand  column,  were  both  ecclesiastics 
and  bishops,  though  more  distinguished  as  statesmen  than  as  divines.  Of  those  who  are 
placed  in  the  right-hand  column.  Sir  Thomas  More,  the  author  of  '*  Utopia,"  &c.,  and 
Lord  Bacon,  the  philosopher,  were  both  chancellors  of  England:  Sir  Matthew  Hale 
was  an  eminent  judge;  Sir  Edward  Coke,  a  great  lawyer.  Sir  Philip  Sidney,  the 
author  of  "Arcadia,"  &c.,  Harrington,  the  author  of  "Oceana,"  &c.,  John  Selden, 
and  Sir  IVilliant  Jones,  all  eminent  scholars,  were  also  distinguished  in  political  life. 

Some  who  are  classed  in  the  Table  among  statesmen  and  commanders  are  also  dis- 
tinguished as  authors,  as  Raleigh,  Bolingbroke,  Lyttleton,  Temple,  Algernon  Sidney, 
Burke,  &c. :  some  classed  among  the  divines  and  miscellaneous  authors  are  also  noted  as 
poets,  as  AddicoHf  IVatis,  Swi/t,  &c;  and  some  of  the  poets  are  also  eminent  as  prose- 
writers. 

Skakspeare,  the  great  English  dramatist,  is  eminently  distinguished  for  genius;  Mil- 
tou  is  regarded  as  the  greatest  epic  poet  of  modem  times:  Lord  Bacon  pointed  out  the 
true  mode  of  philosophizing:  the  works  of  Newton  foimed  an  era  in  natural  phitosophy 
and  astronomy,  as  did  those  of  Locke  in  the  philosophy  of  the  human  mind. 

There  are  many  names  of  much  merit  in  English  literature  in  addition  to  those  con- 
tained in  the  Table. 


INDEX. 


PAGE 

Abdul  medjid 194 

Abdurrahman 200 

Aboukir 169 

Acre 61,  194 

Act  of  Supremacy no 

Act  of  Uniformity no,  150 

Addison 156,  180 

Aella 16 

Afghan  wars 190, 199 

Agincourt  (Azhankoor) 83 

Agricola 8 

Agriculture 2,  38,  78,  116,  179 

Alabama  claims 198 

Albert,  Prince 187,  190 

Albion 2 

Alchemy 75 

Alexandria 202 

Aix-la-Chapelle,  Treaty  of 164 

Alfred 22 

Allahabad         192 

Alma 196 

America 99, 124 

American  Revolution 166 

Amusements 37,  78,  121,  181 

Angles 12 

Anglesey 7 

Anne 155 

Anne  Boleyn  (Bul-en) 104 

Anne  of  Cleves 105 

Anselm 54 

Anti-Com-Law  League 188 

Antoninus 8 

Arabi  Bey 201 

73, 118 

•••■••«  IX 

>••••••  III 

*•*••••  2 

>•■■•••  204 

•   •    "1,139,155,174 

•    •••«.     i3»  *6 

>......      01 


Architecture     .    .    . 

Aries 

Armada,  Spanish  .  . 
Arms  and  armor  .  . 
Arnold,  Thomas  .  . 
Art  and  artists  .    .    . 

Arthur 

Ascalon 

Ascham,  Roger 108 


Astrology  and  astronomy 
Athelstan     .    .    . 
Athelwold     .     .     . 
Augustan  age  of  En 
Augustine    .    .    . 
Australia.    .    .    . 


Backgammon 

Bacon,  Francis 
Bacon,  Sir  Nicholas 
Bacon,  Roger  .    . 
Balance  of  Power . 
Balaklava     .    .     . 

Baliol 

Bank  of  England  . 
Bannockbum  .  . 
Bamet      .... 

Bards 

Barebone's  Parliament 
Barons     .    .    . 
Basutos  .    .    . 
Bath   .... 
Bayeux  tapestry 
Beaumont  and  Fletcher 
Becket,  Thomas  k 
Bede  .... 
Birmah    .     .     . 
Benares  .    .    . 
Berlin,  Treaty  of 
Bemicia  .    .    . 
Bertha     .    .    . 
Beyroot  .    .    . 
Bible  .... 
Black  Death    . 
Black  Prince     . 
Blake,  Admiral 
Blackstone  .    . 
Blenheim     .    . 
Blucher  (Blook'-er) 
Boadicea .    .    . 
Boers  .... 
Bolingbroke     . 


land 


II 


PAGE 

■3.75 

24 

26 

.    156 

14 

196 

37 
"5 

112 

75 
194 
196 

64 
154 

65 
88 


3 
.    146 

•  7« 

.    201 

.      4a 

.      38 
.    127 

.      58 
.      40 

.    191 
167,  192 

•  199 
.      z6 

.  14 

.  194 

24, 124 

.  68 

.  67 

•  *45 

•  173 

•  156 
.  171 
.  8 
.  201 

.  156 


225 


1 


226 


INDEX, 


INDEX. 


I 


'if 
1 


PAGE 


Bonaparte,  Napoleon 169 

Bosworth go 

Bothwell,  Earl  of m 

Boyne,  Battle  of  the 154 

Braddock,  Gen igj 

Bradshaw 141 

Bretwalda x\ 

Bright,  John 188,204 

Brighton 42 

Britain j 

Britannia 2 

British  Empire      ........        % 

British  Government  .......    206 

British  possessions 208 

Britons 4  12 

Bronze     j 

Brougham 204 

Bruce,  Robert 64 

Brunswick,  House  of 16a 

Bruyes  f^rw-a;.  Admiral 169 

Buckingham 125 

Bunyan,  John 15, 

Burke,  Edmund ifig,  173 

Burleigh,  Lord 112 

Bums,  Robert 173 

Byron,  Lord     .    .   ' 173,184 


aoo 

IX 

5 


.    150 

.      99 

190, 199 


17 

54 

6 

109 


Cabal,  the 

Cabots,  The , 

Cabul.    . 

Cade,  Jack g6 

C3:dmon  (Ked-mon) 20 

Cxdwalla 

Caen    . 

C«sar,  Julius 

Calais 67 

Calendar,  The jg, 

Caledonians ,  g 

Cambridge ^^^^'i 

Campbell,  Sir  Colin  ...'....    192 

Canadian  rebellions 

Canals     •••....,, 

Candahar     

Candles . 

*^""0" 67.75,83 

Canute  1 28 

Canute  II 28 

Caradoc,  or  Caractacus .... 

Caribert 

Carlyle,  Thomas 204 

Caroline,  Queen ig-, 

C«4ag. ,' 


192 
182 

300 
36 


7 
14 


PAGE 

Carthaginians i 

^^stles 46,  71,  143 

Caswollon,  or  Cassivelaunus  ....        7 

Catesby,  Robert 112 

Cathedrals 73 

Catherine  of  Arragon 100 

Catherine  of  France 84 

Catherine  Howard 105 

Catherine  Parr 105 

Catholic  Emancipation  Act     ....     184 

Catholic-Relief  Bill ig© 

Catholics,  Laws  against r8o 

Cavaliers 132 

Cavagnari,  Major 200 

Cawnpore     . iq2 

Caxton go 

Ceaulin  (Ke-au-lin) 15 

Cecil  (Ses-z7),  Robert 125 

Cecil,  William ua 

Celts    . 2 

Cerdic jg 

Cetywayo 

Chalk 

Chariots 

Chariemagne  (Sharl-mahn)      ...      17 

Charles  1 128 

Charles  II.  ......    .    142,  144,  148 

Chariists igg 

Chatham,  Lord ,66 

Chaucer -q 

Chester ;    .    .    42,  48 

Chesterfield,  Lord     .......    173 

Chevy  Chace    . 70 

China,  War  with 153 

Christianity 11,  14,  40 

Chivalry .     68,  76 

Churls ig 

Cimri 

Cissa 

Clarendon,  Constitutions  of    .    .    . 

Clarendon,  Lord 

Qaudius 

Clergy 

Clive,  Lord 165 

Coal yg 

Cobden igg^  204 

Cobham,  Lord g2 

Coke 127 

Coleridge 173 

Colleges  . 91,  "4 

Columbus QQ 

Commerce    .    .    1,  39,  7g,  99,  116,  155,  178 


2 

15 

58 
150 

7 

72 


PAGE 

.  63,  74,  207 

141 


Commons,  House  of  .    .    , 
Commonwealth,  The .    . 

Compiegne  (Kom-pe-ain) 85 

Conquest,  The 3^ 

Constitution,  British 153 

^^PP^"- ."    .*    .'i!4.ii 

Cornwallis,  Lord in- 
corporation and  Test  Act  ....    [    184 

Corunna \    x-]o 

Covenant,  Scotch  .... 

Cowper 

Cranmer,  Archbishop     ,    . 

Cressy 

Crimea 

Criminal  laws jg^  175^  jg^ 

Cromwell,  Oliver 133^  ^^^ 

Cromwell,  Richard 148 

Cromwell,  Thomas    .    .    , 


loi,  104, 


134 
173 

108 

67 

193 


Duke 

Dunbar 

Dundalk 

Dunkirk 

Dunstan 

Duquesne  (Du-kane),  Fort 


227 

PAGE 
.       68 

64, 143 

•  143 
.  147 
25,40 

•  194 


X04 

Crusades g 

Culloden jg 

Cumberland,  Duke  of 164 

Curran j^^ 

Cymbeline _ 

Cyprus ]  jgg 


27 
22 


III 

204 

67 


16 
192 
204 


Danegeld 

Danelagh 

^^"^^ 21,  27,  47 

Danish  kings 28 

Damley,  Lord  .     . 

Darwin    .... 

David  of  Scotland 

Defoe,  Daniel jg' 

Deira 

Delhi 

Derby,  Earl  of .    . 

De  Ruyter j^^ 

Dettengen jg. 

De  Witt ".     i    .*    145 

Dickens,  Charles  .     . 

Disraeli  ( Diz-rd-el-e) 

Domestic  life     .     .     . 

Doomsday  Book ^q 

Douglas gj 

Drake,  Sir  Francis    .     .     .     .   m 

Drama 

Dress 

Drogheda  .  .  . 
Druidism  .  ,  . 
Dryden  .... 
Dublin  .... 
Dudley,  Guilford  . 


East  anglia ,3^  ^7 

East  India  Company .    .     115,  165,  186,  193 

Eddystone  Lighthouse 178 

Edgehill  ....... 

Edgar 

Edgar  Atheling     .... 
Edinburgh  (Ed-in-bur-ro) 

Edmund 

Edmund  Ironside  .... 

Edred.    ....... 

Education    .    . 

Edward  the  Confessor 29 

Edward  the  Martyr  .......      26 

Edward  the  Elder 
Edward  I.     .     . 
Edward  II.  .    . 

Edward  III 66 

Edward  IV.      . 
Edward  V.   .    . 


•    •    •    133 
...      25 

.     .     31,47 
.    .   17,  144 

...        25 

...    27 
...    25 

20,  74,  100,  121,  i8i,  197 


24 

64 
65 


87 

89 


z6 

25 

,  21 

20X 

57 


25 

109 

15 
49 


4,  10, 


•     .     204 
200,  204 

■     •       37 


112, 114 
.      ...      174 

^9,  36,  79,  120 
.     ...     143 


151 

78 

107 


Edward  VI ^^ 

Edwin 

Edwy 

Egbert jg^  j 

Egypt ig^ 

Eleanor  of  Guienne 

Elfrida "g 

Elgiva 

Elizabeth 

Ella .    !    * 

Ely .    . 

Emma  of  Normandy 26 

Empress  of  India      .    .     .    .    .     .    .     1^8 

England,  Name  of    ......    .      ,3 

Erasmus .    106 

Essex ].".     13,16 

Essex,  Earl  of 

Ethelbald     .....**.'.' 

Ethelbert 

Ethelbert  of  Kent 

Ethelburga jg 

Ethelredl •    •    •      ^^ 

Ethelredll ...*.*      26 

Ethelwolf 

Eton  College     ....... 

Eustace,  Count     ...... 


112 

21 
2X  • 
14 


21 


gx 

30*34 


ri.  i; 


228 


Evesham 
£xeter     . 


INDEX, 


Fairfax,  Lord  .  . 

Fairfax,  Sir  Thomas      . 

Falkirk 

Falkland,  Lord  .  .  . 
Famine  in  Ireland  .  . 
Fawkes,  Guy  .... 
Feudal  period  .... 
Feudal  system       ,    , 

Fielding 

Field  of  the  Cloth  of  Gold 
Fire  in  London     .    . 
Fisher,  Bishop      .    .    . 
Fishery  award  .... 
Fitz  Osbom,  William     . 
Flodden  Field  .    .    .    .    . 

Fontenoy 

Food  .    .    . 
Fotheringay  Castle   .     .     . 

Fox,  Charles  J 

France,  English  claim  to  . 
France,  66,  83,  84, 102,  log, 
Francis,  Sir  Philip     .    .    . 

Free  Church  of  Scotland  . 
French  Revolution    .    .    . 

Freya 

J^riars 

Frobisher 

Furniture     .    .    . 

Gaels '  .  . 

Garrick,  David     .... 

Garter,  Knights  of  the  .    . 
Gas 

Gascoigne,  Sir  Waiiam  .    . 
Gauls 

Gaveston 

George  I 

George  II 

George  III 

George  IV 

Gibbon 

Gibraltar 

Gildas 

Gbdstone    ,    .    . 
Glasgow  Bank .    .    .    '. 
Glendower.  Owen      .    .    [    ! 

Godwin,  Earl 

Gold 

Goldsmith,  Oliver      .    .    .    . 


164 


Grampian  Hills 

Grattan 

G^y .*  '  .'  ." 

Great  Britain 

Grecian  affairs 

Greenwich  Observatory 
Gregory,  Pope 

Gresham,  Sir  Thomas   .    .    . 

Grey,  Earl 

Grey,  Lady  Jane 

Grouchy  (Groo'-shy),  Marshal 

Guienne 

Guines  (Gheen) 

Guise  rC«/<?w;,  Duke  of  .    . 
Gunpowder       

Gunpowder  Plot    .... 

Guthrum \\ 

Gypsies 


2.19,36,79.  "8 

•  .    .    .    Ill 

•  •      168,  173 

•  •    •    •      66 
154. 155. 164, 169 

....    174 

•  •    •    .    189 

•  •    .    .    169 

•  •    •    .      19 

•  •     .     .      73 

•  •      .      .      1X2 

»o.  35.  "8,  181 


•    •    •    •    5. 8 
■    ...    174 

•  .    .      68 

•  •    .    182 

•  •  •  82 
...  6 
...  65 
...    162 

•  •  •  163 
...  166 
...  183 
.    .  168,  173 

•  .    .    156 

•  •  .  20 
197.  aoo,  204 
...     203 


81 

29 

II 
173 


HaBEUS  Corpus  . 

Hadrian 

Hale,  Sir  Matthew    . 

Halidon  HiU    .    .    . 

Halley 

Halloween    .... 

Hampden,  John    .    , 

Handel 

Hanover 

Hanover,  Elector  of  . 

Hardicanute     .    .    . 

Hardrada     .... 

Harfleur 

Harold  I 

Harold  II 

Harvey 

Harwich , 

Hastings,  Battle  of   .    , 

Hastings,  Warren      .    , 
Havelock,  Gen.    .    .    . 

Hawkins 

Heidelberg 

Hengist 

Henrietta  Maria   .    ,    . 

Henry  I 

Heniy  II 

Henry  III 

Henry  IV 

Henry  V 

Henry  VI 

Henry  VH 

Henry  VIII 

Heptarchy 


PAGE 

8 

.  173 

•  173 

s 

.    184 

•  15a 

•  H 

•  "4 
.    184 

.  107 

•  171 
.  84 
.  Z02 

•  109 

•  75 

•  123 

22 

•  "7 


•  IS* 

•  9 
.  151 
.     66 

•  151 

3 
»29.  134 
166,  x8i 
.  187 
.  162 
.  38 
.      32 

•  83 
.      28 

30 
.    127 

43 

•  33 
.  167 
.  192 
■  112 
.  30I 

la 

.  ia8 

•  54 

•  57 

•  63 
.  81 
.  82 

84 
97 

lOI 

13 


INDEX. 


229 


Hereward    .    . 

Hexam  Forest . 

Hogarth  .     .    , 

Hong  Kong  . 
Hood  .... 
Hooper  .  .  . 
Horsa.  .  .  . 
Hotspur  .  .  . 
Houses 
Howard 


.  3 


,4.10,  19.35.41,60,78,  118 


112 


Howard,  John.    .    . 

Hume      .    .  ^7 

•    •    •  173 

...  167 


Hyder  Ali  (Hider  Ah-lee) 


ICENI 

I^* 

I"a 

India 

Inkerman 

Innocent,  Pope      .... 

^^^^^^ X,  5.  142,  168,  189 

Irish  Church 

Iron,  and  iron  furnace   . 
Isabella  of  France     .    . 


...        8 

...      16 

...      16 

"5.  165,  190 

•  .     .     196 

•  •     .       62 


PACE 

49  Lancaster,  branch  of 

88  Land  Bills,  Irish 

i8i  Language,  English    .    .    *.    ! 

193  Latimer,  Bishop    .....' 

204  Laud,  Archbishop     .... 

108  Lead 

12    Leicester,  Earl  of.    .    .    .    .* 
70    Leven,  Earlof 

Lighthouses 

Lilly,  William  ...'.'    .'    [ 

Lingard  .....     ... 

Llewellyn 

Loch  Leven  Castle    .... 

Locke,  John .' 

Logarithms 

^"ards 

London    .    .    . 

Long  Parliament 

Louisburg  .  . 
Lucknow  .  . 
Luther,  Martin 


PAGE 

71,  81,  86 

197.  262 

•    69,  76 

.    .     108 

.  .  130 
.  .1,  II 
.    .    112 


Isandula 

Jackson,  Gen.  . 

Jacobites 

James  IV.  of  Scotland 
James  VI.  of  Scotland 

James  I 

James  II 

Jane  Seymour  .     .     . 
Jeffries,  Chief  Justice 

Jelalabad 

Jewish  disabilities      . 

J«*s 

Joan  of  Arc .    .    ,    .    , 

John 

John  of  France  .  .  . 
John  of  Gaunt .  .  .  . 
Johnson,  Samuel  .  .  . 
Jones,  Inigo  .  .  .  . 
Jonson,  Ben  .  .  .  . 
Junius's  letters  .  .  . 
Jutes  .... 


142 

197 

II 

66 

201 


135 

9,  178 

106 

•     .....     204 

64 

Ill 

151 

127 

82 

41,  78,  114,  155,  183,  203 

145 

•    ' 165 

192 

103 


•  .  172 
153,  162 

•  .  102 

•  •  III 
-  .  122 
.  .  152 

•  .  105 

•  •     152 
190,  199 

•     197 
.      64 

.  84 
62 

■  67 
69 

•  173 

•  127 

.     127 

•  173 

12 


Kent  .  . 

Khyber  Pass 
Knights  .  . 
Knox,  John  . 


•  13, 14 

•  199, 200 

.    .      76 

•  .    Ill 


Macaulay  . 

Macbeth  .... 

Magic 

Magic  lanterns      . 

Magna  Charta  .     . 

Malakoff,  The .    .    , 

Malplaquet  .     .    .    , 

Manchester  .... 

MandeviUe,  Sir  John 

Mansfield,  Lord    .    . 

Mantes    ....". 
Manufactures   .    .    . 
Maria  Theresa .    .    .    .    . 
Mariborough,  Duchess  of  . 
Mariborough,  Duke  of  .    . 
Margaret  of  Anjou  .     .    . 

Marston  Moor 

Mary  I 

Mary  II 

Mary,  Queen  of  Scots  .  . 
Matilda  of  Flanders  .  .  . 
Matilda  of  Scotland  .  .  . 
Matilda  Plantagenet .  .  . 
Matthew,  Father  .... 

May  Day 

Meerut 

Mehemet  Ali  (Ah'-lee)      . 

^^ercia 

Middleburg 

Miller,  Hugh   ..... 


204 

31 

3 

75 

62 

196 

156 

.    .    .    ■    .  43 

69 

173 

S3 

5,  38,  116,  155,  178 

•  •     .     164 

•  .     .     156 

•  •     •     155 

•  •     85,87 

•  •    •     135 

•  .    .     107 

•  •    •     153 

•  .    .     no 

•  .  .  53 

•  .  .  55 

•  •  •  55 
.  .  .  189 

•  .  3,  121 
.  .  .  192 

•  .  .  194 

•  •     13,  17 

•  .    .     201 

•  .     •    204 


IM 


u 


i^  f "  mjHi 


lili' 


230 


Milton,  John    . 
Mining    .    .    . 

Miracle  pla3£s   . 
Mona  .... 
Money     .    .    . 
Monk,  Gen.      . 
Monmouth,  Duke  of 
Montfort,  Simon  de 
Montrose,  Earl  of 
Moore,  Sir  John    . 
Moore,  Tom     .    . 
Morals     .... 
More,  Sir  Thomas 
Mortimer      .     . 
Mounteagle,  Lord 
Music.    .    .    . 


Nana  SAHIB.  .  . 

Napier,  Sir  Charles   .    . 

Naseby 

National  debt    .... 

Navarino,  Battle  of  .     . 

Navigation  Act,  and  laws 

Navy  . 

Needles 

Nelson,  Lord    .... 

Nero 

Neville's  Cross      .    ,    . 

Newbury 

New  Forest 

New  Orleans,  Baltic  of  . 
Newspapers  .... 
Newton,  Sir  Isaac  .  . 
Nightingale,  Florence  . 
Nile,  Battle  of  the      .    .    , 

Non-jurors 

Norman  family      .    .    .    . 

Normans 

North,  Lord 

North,  Kit 

Northumbria 

Northumberland,  Duke  of . 
Nottingham,  Countess  of   . 


INDEX. 


INDEX, 


5t  ^^1 


PAGE 
.      .      .141,151 

•  •    •    .  4i  zz 

•  •    •    •      73 

•  •    •    .        7 
20,  106,  127, 136 

....    144 

■  ...    152 

•  .    .    .      63 

•  •  135,  143 

•  •  •    .     170 

•  .  •    .    204 

•  •  .  74,  181 

■  •    .    •    104 

•  ■     •     .      66 

•  •     .     .     123 
...  37.  181 


231 


Otterbum     .    .    . 

Oude 

Oudenarde   .    .    . 
Oxford  University 


PAGE 

.      70 

191 

156 

24 


PACKENHAM('/'«>fcW«,),Gen..    172 

Falmerston   .     . 

204 


•  .  •  192 
.  .  .  190 
.  .  .  136 
'  .     .     165 

•  •  •  184 
■  144.  188 
99.  153.  182 
.  .    .        5 

.     169 

7 
67 

•  134 

•  49 
.     172 

•  »55 

•  151 
.  196 
.  169 

.     153 

•  45 
.      29 

•  173 
.     204 

13,16 
.     107 

•  "3 


Gates,  titus  . 

O'Connell,  Daniel      . 

Odo 

Odo  of  Bayeux  .  . 
Oldcastle,  Sir  John  . 
Ordeal,  Trial  by    .    . 

Orleans 

Ormond,  Marquis  of. 


Paris,  Peace  of .     .    .     . 

Parr,  Dr 

Pegu 

Pei  Ho  River   .... 

Pekin 

Pcnda      

Percy 

Petition  of  Rights      .    . 
Philip  n.  of  Spain     .    .    , 
Philip  of  Valois     .... 

Pf^'Jippa 

Phoenicians 

P»«s 

Pilgrims 

Pitt,  William 

Pitt,  William,  the  younger 
Plague,  The  great     .    .    . 

Plantagenet 

Plantagenet  family     .    .    . 
Plautius  (Plau-she-us)     . 

Plymouth 

Poitiers  (Pwa-tiers)     .    . 
Pope,  Alexander   .... 

Population 

Port  Said 

Posts 

Postage,  Penny ^^^ 

Pottery  and  porcelain 4, 178 

•    •    .    .    106 


.    ...    166 

•    ...    168 

...    191 

•  •  .  194 
...  194 
.    .    .      17 

•  .  «  7^ 
.    .    .    129 

•  .  107, 109 
...  66 
...  67 
.  .  .  X 
.    .  5,  8,  za 

•  .    .    125 

•  .     5, 106 
166, 173 

•  ^69,  173 
...    150 

•  •    •      56 

•  •    •      57 

•        •        •  y 

...    125 

...      67 

...     156 

155.  183,  203 

•  p     .     203 

•  *4o,  155 


•     15^ 
184,  188 

25 
.  46 
.  82 
40,  60 

•      85 
.    14a 


Prayer,  Book  of  Common 
Preston  Pans    .    .    .    , 
Pretenders,  The    .    .    , 
Prince  imperial,  French 
Prince  regent    .... 

Printing 

Prisons 

Protectorate,  The .    .    . 

Punjab 

Puritans 

Quebec 

RaIKES,  ROBERT  . 
Raleigh 

Rkmillies      .... 


•    .    .    .     164 

'    .    . 162, 164 

'    ...    201 

...    173 

...      89 

...    177 

•  .    .    146 

•  .    .    190 

no,  124 

.    •    .    Z65 

...    179 

113,  116,  122 
...      156 


Ravenspur  .... 
Redan,  The      .     .    . 
Reform  bills      .    .     . 
Reformation      .     .     . 
Religion  ..... 
Repression  Bill     .    . 
Restoration,  The  .     . 
Reviews,  Literary     . 
Revolution  of  i688    . 
Reynolds,  Sir  Joshua 

Richard  I 

Richard  II 

Richard  in.      .     .     .     [ 
Richardson  .... 
Ridley     ....'.; 

Roads 

Robert  of  Normandy     , 

Roberts,  Gen 

Robertson 

Rogers,  John  .  .  .  . 
Romans  in  Britain  .  . 
Roman  relics  .... 
Rooke,  Admiral  .  .  . 
Rosamond  Clifford  .  . 
Roses,  Wars  of  the    . 

Rouen 

Roundheads     .... 
Round  Table,  Knights  of 
Royal  Academy    .     .    . 
Royal  family    .... 
Rubens 

Rugby 

Rump  Parliament      ,    . 
Rupert,  Prince      .     .     . 
Russell,  Lord  John    .     . 
Russia     ...... 

Rye-House  Plot    .    .    . 
Ryswick.  Peace  of    .    . 

SaCHEVERELL,  Dr.    . 

St.  Alban 

St.  Alban's 

St.  Brice 

St.  Helena 

St.  Paul's  Cathedral  .    .     '. 
Saladin    ....... 

Salamanca    ...... 

Sancrofi , 

Savings  banks  .    .     .     .    . 
Sawtree,  William  ...     * 

Saxe,  Marshal 

Saxons    .... 


PAGE 

...      70 

.    .    .    196 

...    184 

102, 115 

2,  19,  40,  179 

...    203 

...    148 

...    174 

•    •    .    153 
168, 174,  181 

...      61 


the. 


.  69 
.  89 
.  180 
.  108 
9,  15s 

•  49 
.    200 

•  173 
.     108 

6 

10 

.    156 

•  59 
86,90 

•  53 
.    132 

•  13 
.     181 

.     219 

•  139 
.     114 

i     142 

133 


c  ,  .  PAGE 

Saxon  kmgs 

Schools ;    ,jo,4l,\l 

Scinde 

Scott,  Sir  Walter  .    .*    .*    .*    .*    .*    l,;^/,^^ 
Scotland  .      I,  5,  8,  64,  65,  68,  70,  104,  124, 

130,  134,  136,  143 
•    .    .    .      5.  8,  12,  81 

'    • 19 

■ 195 

i6 

.....      33 

191 

163 

91 

164 

*.....        9 

202 

no,  127 

4a 

••....     199 
168,  173 


Scots 

Seator 

Sebastopol    .... 
Sebert 

Senlac 

Sepoy  Rebellion    .    .    . 

Septennial  Act .... 

Serfs    ....... 

Seven- Years'  War     .    . 

Severus    

Seymour,  Admiral     .    . 

Shakspeare  .    i    .    .    . 

Sheffield 

ShereAli 

Sheridan 

Ship-money      .... 

Shrewsbury o 

Siddons,Mrs ."    ."   .'    '  ^es,  xjl 

Sidney,  Algernon  .    .    . 

Sidon 

Sigebert  

Silistria 

SiJver 

Simnel,  Lambert  .    . 
Slaves  and  slavery     . 

Smollett 

Somerset,  Duke  of    .    . 
Somerset,  Earl  of .    .    . 


157 
iz 

7 
27 


185,  204    Soult,  Marshal, 

•    195    Southey 

.    i5»    South-sea  Bubble  .... 
.    154    Spectator,  The ....." 

Spenser 

Spoons    

Spurs,  Battle  of  the  .    .    . 

Stafford,  Lord 

Stamp  Act 

.    172  I  Stanley,  Dean 

.  9.  16    Star  Chamber 

•      6x    Steamboat,  and  steam-engine 

.    170    Steele 

.     153    Stephen   ........ 

.    183    Sterne 

.      81     Stigand .    ; 

.    Z64    Stonehenge 

12,  z8  I  Strafford,  Earl  of  ...     . 


•  .  •  151 
...  4 
...      Z7 

•  •  •  195 
...  zi 
...      97 

9.  18,  35,  185 
.  •  .  180 
.     .     .     X06 

•  •    •     125 
.    .     .     Z70 

•  •    .    204 

•  .    .    163 

•  .    .    x8o 

•  .  .  xzo 
.  .  .  5 
.    .    .    103 

•  .  .  151 

•  .  .  z66 
.  .  .  204 
.  .  .  zoo 

.      .      .      z82     ' 

.     156,  z8o 

•  •     •      55 

•  •    •     173 

•  .      52 

•  •        3 
.     .     129 


232 


INDEX. 


I  n 


1 


11 

i 


Stuart,  Arabella 
Stuart  family    , 
Stuart,  House  of 
Suetonius     .    . 
Suez  Canal  .     . 


PAGE 


122 


122,  149.  i57f  164 


Ulundi 

United  States,  War  with 
Utrecht,  Peace  of,    .    . 


Van  tromp 

Vandyke  .  .  , 
Vane,  Sir  Henry  , 
Victoria    .     .     .    , 


zoo 

7 
ao2 


Surrajah  Dowlah ,6- 

Sweyn •'    *    "27, 49 

Swift    ....  ,,<;'/: 

^^^^^ 5 

^"^ 194 


Wakefield "^ge 

^KPrin«;f:::  :'t'-' 3^^*34. 64 

Wallace.  William .    ...  '  61 

x^!l!^J^:^°^'^ '  •'  •"'62,163 

•    .    iij 


Walsingham 
Warwick .    .    . 
Warbeck,  Perkin 


170 


Talavera    .... 

l^^-^f-^^ : : :  :g 

Taxes 60  i  6 

l<=^^^"xayz *    *    ".    1    .  '  196 

Temperance  reform 

Tewksbury 

Thackeray 

Thanes 

Thomson '    *    * 

Thor 

Tien-tsin 

Tin      ...... 

Tonnage  and  poundage jgg 

Tories 

Tostig 

Tournaments    .    .    . 


87 

98 


Washington,  George jg. 

Waterloo      .    .  •    •    .      04 


171 


Z89 
88 

304 
18 

163 

19 
194 


Waterloo  Bridge jg 

Watts,  Isaac     .... 

Welsh .    .    [ 

Weddings 

Wedgwood 

Wellington,  Duke  of     ,    ,    .    . 

Wesleys,  The [ 

Wessex    1    .    .    . 


•  163 
.2,81 

37i  121 

.     178 

170,  184 

•  174 


•  13,  17 
16,  31,  lOI 

•  .    Z40 
•137, 


157 

32 

Tower  of  London      ...  "4*  o, 

rw,     .  40, 07 

Towton 

Tudor  family 

Tudor,  Owen .    *    .' 

Tuisco '  ^    ^ 

Trafalgar 

Transvaal 

Tyler,  Wat ] 

Tyrone,  Earl  of 

Tyrrcl.  Walter 


87 

97 

84 

19 

169 

20  X 

69 

112 

54 


201 
172 
156 


MS 
139 
134 
187 


Westminster  Abbey  .... 
Westminster  Assembly  .  .  . 
Westminster  Hall  .... 
Whigs 

Whitefield  {Hwit'feeld)    \    \ 

Wickliffe,  John 

Wilberforce,  William     . 

William  I. ...;.;;...  .- 

William  II *^ 

William  III.      ....'.'****.!* 

William  IV.      ...*.'* 

William  of  Normandy    .    . 

William  of  Orange    .... 

Williams,  Roger   .    .    .    .    ]    .    .    .    ^40 

Wmchester 

Windsor  ....  "        .. 

Witan ^''^^ 

•     •• ig 

,,.  ,  165 

Wolsey  (Wool-ze),  Cardinal  ....    103 

Women ,0  »q 

18,  38,  117 

II,  42, 144 

••••....    204 

189 

Wren,  Sir  Christopher ,j. 


168 
157 
174 
70 
185 


153 
184 

31 
153 


Woden     . 
Wolfe.  Gen. 


Worcester  . 
Wordsworth 
World's  Fair 


Villenage g^ 

Vittoria J 

Vortigera 


13 


Yakoob  khan 

York 

York,  Branch  of  .  . 

York,  Duke  of.    .  , 

Yorktown     .    .    .  . 


Zulus 


.  ....  199 

i6,  32,  40,  42,  47 

•  •    71,86,87 

•  '.    .    .    X50 
....    167 

•  •    •    .    900 


1 


■£i*t^ 


W 


^ 


IJ/t-^ 


i 


"T 


J-^ 


; 


i 


% 


•k. 


■T?K\^,i 


•    '  4y  vv 


,i  j»>* 


t-Si? 


.     r\  'i^J  A^f.-.  ■•'^ ■■■*■  •■<■* 


*  1» 


r*- 


— .J-V' 


'«! 


^^. 


/x<ft^*' 


"^'N.-  J 


fc#/ 


f  :4/*.<. 


